Jasprit Bumrah: A First Of Its Kind Opportunity For The Growing Star Performer

An important sight was missing in the recent thumping victory India registered Down Under, winning the decisive Gabba Test by 3 wickets. The mesmerizing win, forged at the backdrop of India’s Test batting stooping to its lowest, the team stunned by their 36 all out performance at one stage, birthed revered performances. Cheteshwar Pujara had […]
 
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Jasprit Bumrah: A First Of Its Kind Opportunity For The Growing Star Performer

An important sight was missing in the recent thumping victory India registered Down Under, winning the decisive Gabba Test by 3 wickets.

The mesmerizing win, forged at the backdrop of India’s Test batting stooping to its lowest, the team stunned by their 36 all out performance at one stage, birthed revered performances.

Cheteshwar Pujara had held to an end for long. Mohammad Siraj shone brightly with the red ball. Shubman Gill led the way with an attacking and coming-of-age knock, while Rishabh Pant scripted history in the end by hitting the winning runs.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah is probably India’s first fast bowler who knows how to play with the wind : Shoaib Akhtar

But there was no crushing of timber or catching batsmen out plumb in front as only Jasprit Bumrah does.

Jasprit Bumrah: A First Of Its Kind Opportunity For The Growing Star Performer

The latter, a sight familiarized by batsmen engaging in the most banal of things like wasting reviews only for Bumrah to uphold his fist.

Sidelined by injury, the feeling of being part of a winning squad albeit not the victorious eleven would certainly have pinched a bit even if it would, in the wake of the team’s cause, have meant so much to the Gujarat-born pacer.

In some ways, the bowler who first rose in red ball cricket by bowling Gujarat to their maiden (and only) Ranji title triumph (circa 2016-17) will be gearing to get back to don the whites.

And perhaps nothing could be better than doing so, for the first time ever, on Indian soil.

As England ready to counter Team India, taking the hosts at a destination that, given the sheer challenge of playing there, is called the ‘Final Frontier,’ one man will be keen, above everyone, to wield the red ball.

It’s that very bowler who’s yet to make his debut appearance on his own home soil- can you believe it?

 

Little reason then as to why the England tour of India 2021 is riddled with boundless excitement.

In what promises to be a closely-contested series between two of the famed “Big Three” of the sport, the stakes will be incredibly high and the prospect of seeing some close battles filled with mouth-watering excitement.

For starters, in what promises to be a series contested between the bludgeoning willows of two of the best bats in the business in Kohli and Root, will certainly look at the burgeoning pace battles to steal the show.

Also ReadMany thought I would be last person to play for India: Jasprit Bumrah

In a first, lest you forget, it’ll be an Archer versus Bumrah show.

Now what makes this very battle, arguably speaking, the one to watch is the fact that neither of the two have ever bowled a single red-ball delivery in international cricket in India.

Perfect opportunity then Mr. “Timber-crushing” Jasprit Bumrah to create headlines with familiar blitz?

As a matter of fact, back in 2017, when England came calling to answer their Indian challenge, an outcome that saw India roasting the then Sir Alastair Cook-led side, the pace attack featured no Bumrah.

This was for the simple reason that the lean, mean batsman-gnawing machine hadn’t Test debuted yet.

Much of the red-ball responsibility was ably shouldered by the two striking names of the post Zaheer-Khan era in Umesh and Shami (328 Test wickets collectively).

More strikingly while England had the opportunity the last time around to make the most of the situation, the 2017 series involving 5 Tests, there’s no such luck available this time around.

As the imminent series features just 4 Tests but plenty of rip-roaring fast bowling talent available from the Indian stable, the home fans would hope to see Jasprit Bumrah return as the ringleader.

The sheer prospect of seeing Ishant, Siraj, Thakur and Bumrah forge a formidable quartet is about as exciting as polishing of a continental buffet offering stacked amid sprawling greens and the cool beech vibe.

Though, on his part, the right-arm pacer with steely resolve will be keen to get into the groove with the first Test about to go live at the M.A Chidambaram stadium, wherein thus far, he’s bowled in only a solitary ODI, bowling no more than 4 overs (vs Aus, 2017).

In some ways what Bumrah might unleash come February 5 is something as unavoidable as switching off from binge-watching your favourite Netflix show.

 

Not a bad Test record vs England

The prospect of seeing the zipping in-swinging deliveries that catch batsmen napping in front or the toe-crushers jolting England early hold handsome promise of looking forward to the maiden Test India play this year at home.

And along with that comes the excitement to note a pretty handy record the 27-year-old has already gone on to collect against a very prominent Test force.

Also Read: R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah are certainly up there among the greatest: Justin Langer

From just the 3 Tests he’s played against a Root, Buttler, Stokes, Anderson-powered England in the recent times, Bumrah has already gone on to collect 14 wickets, including 1 fifer.

What happens now as the same unit comes challenging the might of what’ll hopefully be a Jasprit Bumrah-led pace attack, should the previously injured pacer return in the Test fold?

The first ball is due to be bowled Feb 5, live 9.30 am at Chennai.

 

Jasprit Bumrah vs all Test playing nations he’s faced so far

 

Opponent Matches Wickets Best bowling Average
 

Australia

 

7

 

32

 

6 for 33

 

21.2

 

South Africa

 

3

 

14

 

5 for 54

 

25.2

 

New Zealand

 

2

 

6

 

3 for 62

 

31.6

 

West Indies

 

2

 

13

 

6 for 27 (2 fifers)

 

9

 

England

 

3

 

14

 

5 for 85

 

25.9

 

Overs- 631

Maidens bowled- 151

Wickets taken- 79

 

Therefore, his 79 Test scalps have effectively come from 480 overs (i.e., 2880 deliveries)

On an average, he takes a wicket every 36.455 deliveries, that’s a wicket in every 6 overs in Test cricket!