“Jasprit Bumrah equals Kapil Dev’s record with his seventh five-wicket haul in SENA countries during the Perth Test. A masterclass performance cements his legacy as one of India’s all-time greats in challenging conditions.”
It was a historic moment for Indian cricket as Jasprit Bumrah carved his name along with the legendary Kapil Dev, claiming his seventh five-wicket haul in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. The monumental haul came in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth as Bumrah displayed his class as one of India’s finest bowlers in challenging overseas conditions.
A New Chapter in Indian Bowling Legacy
Indian’s records in SENA countries have invariably been a weaker link and have improved considerably since the 2000s, thanks to better resources in pace bowling. India’s quickest new-ball option, Jasprit Bumrah, has also been instrumental in this change. With figures of 5/30 in 18 overs at an astonishing economy rate of 1.67, Bumrah’s spell dismantled the Australian batting lineup. His victims included Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, and skipper Pat Cummins, further solidifying his status as a master of all conditions.
Bumrah has taken 118 wickets at an average of 22.55 in 27 Tests in SENA nations, with a personal best of 6/33. He now becomes the second Indian bowler, after Kapil Dev, who has bagged five wickets in an innings in SENA countries. BS Chandrashekhar, Zaheer Khan, Bishan Singh Bedi, and Anil Kumble come next on the Indian bowlers’ roll. Interestingly, Bumrah is now the fifth Indian captain to have taken five wickets in Tests after Vinoo Mankad, Bishan Bedi, Kapil Dev, and Anil Kumble. The last Indian captain to achieve the feat was in 2007 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by Kumble.
The Match of Interest
Choosing to bat first, India was found wanting against Australia’s potent pace attack. Barring KL Rahul’s dogged knock and a crucial 48-run seventh-wicket stand between Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy, it was generally a disaster – India getting bowled out for 150. Josh Hazlewood spearheaded the attack for Australia, returning figures of 4/29, while Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Alex Carey chipped in two scalps each.
Australia replied with problems to pile up, ending the day at 67/7. None of the top six Australian batters could pass 20 runs scored on Day 1. Bumrah was leading the charge. On Day 2, despite some resistance from Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc, Australia could only score 104 runs at best to leave a slender lead of 46 runs. The highlight of the innings would be Bumrah, ably supported by Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj.
Bumrah: The All-Condition Master
Bumrah’s five-wicket hauls have spanned across conditions, which include some unforgettable performances in Johannesburg, Melbourne, Nottingham, North Sound, Kingston, Cape Town, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, and now Perth. Indeed, he is one of the finest pacers of his generation because of his versatility and ability to adapt to any surface.
An incredible feat in Perth by Jasprit Bumrah has not only stamped his name in the pages of Indian cricket but is also a testament to rising might of India in SENA conditions. And while India continues its pursuit for supremacy in overseas Tests, Bumrah’s brilliance remains the beacon of hope and inspiration.
