Since coming back from his back injury, Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t looked at his best. That doesn’t mean that the great fast bowler hasn’t done well, but considering the level we saw until that great Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Bumrah didn’t seem as threatening.
Jasprit Bumrah takes 5-wicket haul
Some said his nip had gone. His control wasn’t at that level either. Known for rushing the batters, many batters played him with an ease that we haven’t seen anyone do before. But it seems like that was a small phase. Bumrah has returned back to his best with a masterful 5-wicket haul in the India vs South Africa 1st Test.
With the visitors off to a flier, 57/0, Bumrah took 2 wickets in the space of 10 balls. Proteas openers Ryan Rickleton and Aiden Markram were on the charge, and if not for his twin strikes, India might have been struggling. The deliveries were unplayable. Rickleton was done by a peach that straightened off the pitch to take his off pole, while Markram was done by sharp bounce.
In the second session, Tony de Zorzi, who was South Africa’s best batter in Pakistan, was set up beautifully by Bumrah. He bowled a great bouncer to push Zorzi back and then bowled a good length ball to trap him in front of the wicket.
Against the tailenders, he kept it simple. A good-length ball coming in wasn’t something Simon Harmer could handle, and then Keshav Maharaj was hit on the toe by a seething yorker as Bumrah ended with a wow-worthy 5-wicket haul.
Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket hauls in Test cricket
- 4 five wicket haul in Egnland
- 4 five wicket haul in Australia
- 3 five wicket haul in South Africa
- 3 five wicket haul in India
- 2 five wicket haul in West Indies
