Cricket

Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace spearhead, has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable bowlers in the world. His unique bowling action and exceptional skill have left both past and present Australian players in awe.On his previous Test tours of Australia, Bumrah has taken 32 wickets at an average of 21.25, including a match-winning 6/33 during the 2018 Boxing Day Test. Since the start of the 20th century, only two touring bowlers have taken more wickets in Australia at a lower average -- Richard Hadlee and Curtly Ambrose.Australian batters are unanimous about the pivotal role Bumrah can play for India in the upcoming five-match Test series. Travis Head described him as "impossible to face," while Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith acknowledged his ability to strike fear into the hearts of batsmen.Part of Bumrah's magic lies in his unconventional bowling action. Brett Lee, the former Australian pace legend, likened it to that of a "cat burglar." Khawaja admitted that he initially struggled to understand where the ball was coming from when facing Bumrah.Smith, who has an impressive record against Bumrah, still feels vulnerable against him early in his innings. He attributed this to Bumrah's awkward bowling rhythm, which takes some time to adjust to.Bumrah's exceptional skill and ability to unsettle batters make him a key player for India in the upcoming Test series. His presence will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to the Australian batting lineup.

Jasprit Bumrah, India's bowling spearhead and vice-captain, has emerged as a formidable force ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia. His exceptional skills and ability to excel in diverse conditions have made him a key player for India.Bumrah's unique bowling style, characterized by a short run-up and an awkward stiff-arm delivery stride, has left Australian batters in awe. His ability to generate significant pace from a short run-up, combined with his control over line, length, and swing, makes him a formidable opponent.Australian batters have expressed their admiration for Bumrah's bowling prowess. Travis Head described him as "impossible" to face, while Usman Khawaja compared him to Mitchell Johnson due to his awkward action and the deceptive pace he generates. Steve Smith acknowledged the difficulty of facing Bumrah's deliveries, particularly in the initial stages of an innings.Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson explained how Bumrah's unique release point and coordination allow him to generate so much pace. He also highlighted Bumrah's ability to swing the ball both ways at speed, making him even more unpredictable.Marnus Labuschagne, the top-scorer in the last BGT played in Australia, praised Bumrah's ability to control his pace and swing, as well as his use of the bouncer. He emphasized that Bumrah's exceptional skills have made him one of the best bowlers in India.Bumrah's leadership will be crucial for India in the first Test of the BGT, as designated skipper Rohit Sharma will be unavailable due to personal reasons. His experience and ability to inspire his teammates will be vital in India's quest to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India's Test captaincy conundrum has taken center stage ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener against Australia. With Rohit Sharma's availability uncertain due to the birth of his child, Jasprit Bumrah is poised to lead the team in Perth. However, former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh have expressed contrasting views on Bumrah's potential tenure as captain.Gavaskar advocates for Bumrah to helm the team throughout the series, arguing that continuity and stability are crucial. However, Harbhajan raises concerns about the potential for chaos if India wins under Bumrah's leadership. He believes that fans would clamor for Bumrah to remain as captain, while a loss would trigger calls for Rohit's return.Harbhajan emphasizes the fickle nature of public opinion, stating that "we change sides very quickly." He suggests that a single captain for the entire series would be preferable, as it would eliminate the potential for confusion and instability.Despite his reservations, Harbhajan acknowledges Bumrah's leadership qualities. He believes that Bumrah has the ability to lead the team effectively, but cautions against making any hasty decisions based on short-term results.The debate over India's Test captaincy is likely to continue until Rohit's availability is confirmed. In the meantime, Bumrah's performance as captain in the Perth Test will be closely scrutinized, with the potential to shape the team's leadership dynamics for the remainder of the series.

India's recent 0-3 home defeat to New Zealand has cast a shadow over their upcoming 5-Test series in Australia. However, amidst the gloom, there are reasons for optimism, particularly in the team's pace attack.Led by the formidable Jasprit Bumrah, India's fast bowlers have the potential to trouble the Australian batters on the bouncy surfaces Down Under. Bumrah, with his exceptional skills and experience, is a proven match-winner. Mohammed Siraj, with his pace and accuracy, is another key asset. Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana complete a formidable pace battery.The pitches in Australia will provide a different challenge compared to the spin-friendly conditions in India. The Indian pacers will need to adjust their lengths and exploit the bounce. Bumrah's experience and Siraj's adaptability make them ideal for these conditions.Former India pacer L Balaji believes India should play with only four bowlers in the first Test, including Ravindra Jadeja as the fourth option. He emphasizes the importance of a strong batting lineup, with a minimum of 250 runs required to support the bowlers.While Australia's top order has not been in the best form, they still pose a threat. Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith are experienced campaigners. However, the Indian bowling attack has the ability to restrict them to below 250 runs, especially on helpful surfaces.India's batting, however, remains a concern. Their recent struggles against New Zealand's pacers have raised questions about their ability to handle the Australian conditions. Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill (although injured for the first Test) have the potential to score big, but they need to perform consistently.Despite the challenges, India has a history of fighting back in Australia. They have overcome adversity in the past, and they will need to do so again to succeed in this series. The Australian team knows that India is a formidable opponent, and they will be wary of their potential.

South African spin wizard Tabraiz Shamsi has unearthed a remarkable coincidence between his T20 International (T20I) statistics and those of Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.Shamsi took to social media to highlight the uncanny similarities, revealing that both bowlers have played an identical number of T20I matches (70), bowled the same number of deliveries (1,509), and claimed an equal tally of wickets (89).While they have shared the same number of matches, Bumrah has featured in one less innings (69) compared to Shamsi's 70.In terms of economy rates, Bumrah boasts a superior 6.27 runs per over, while Shamsi's stands at 7.39. Notably, Shamsi has achieved the rare feat of a five-wicket haul in T20Is, a milestone that Bumrah is yet to accomplish.Neither bowler featured in the recent T20I series between India and South Africa, which India emerged victorious in with a 3-1 scoreline.Meanwhile, Bumrah is currently in Perth, Australia, preparing with the Indian Test team for their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against the hosts. The five-match Test series will commence on November 22nd in Perth, with subsequent matches scheduled in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.India will be aiming to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and secure their berth in the World Test Championship final.

As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia draws near, the Indian team's three-day practice game against India A has provided valuable insights into their preparations.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released snippets from the practice game, which was closed to fans. The footage reveals that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were in impressive form, troubling the India A batters with their pace and accuracy. Harshit Rana, who is yet to make his India debut, also showcased his bowling prowess.On the batting front, Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad were among those spotted in the video. India's fielding was also sharp, with some fine catches taken in the slips. Gaikwad reportedly impressed with his batting on Day 2 of the practice game.However, the most surprising moment came when opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was seen bowling leg-spin. With uncertainty surrounding the availability of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the opening Test in Perth, Jaiswal's part-time spin bowling could be an option for head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management.India enter the series on the back of a disappointing 0-3 home sweep against New Zealand. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin struggled to perform, leading to a humbling defeat. While Rohit is unlikely to play in the first Test against Australia, India will also miss Shubman Gill, who fractured his thumb during the practice game. KL Rahul, who sustained an elbow injury in the same match, has resumed net practice ahead of the series opener.

Rishabh Pant's Hilarious Banter with Jasprit Bumrah Lights Up Indian Cricket Team's Perth PracticeAs the Indian cricket team gears up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, the atmosphere in the nets has been filled with both hard work and lighthearted banter. At the heart of the fun has been wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, who has been engaging in a hilarious exchange with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.Pant, known for his aggressive batting and infectious enthusiasm, has been trying his hand at bowling during the team's practice sessions. From overpitched deliveries to bouncers, Pant has thrown everything at Bumrah, hoping to claim the prized wicket of the Indian pace spearhead.In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Pant can be seen claiming to have dismissed Bumrah with a bouncer. "Jasprit Bumrah ko pel diya hai maine, net pe out kara hai 1 wicket mila hai. Morkel se puch skte ho (I've dismissed Jasprit Bumrah and got 1 wicket. You can ask Morkel)," Pant said in the video.Bumrah, however, was quick to counter Pant's claim, calling his bowling action illegal. "His bowling action is illegal. It's not out, it's a four or it's a two, I've connected a pull shot. He thinks he has 7 fielders there. He should not be allowed to bowl," Bumrah said.The banter between Pant and Bumrah continued as the wicket-keeper batter tried to convince India's fast bowling coach Morne Morkel that Bumrah was out. Morkel, caught in the middle of the friendly rivalry, found himself in a conundrum.Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, the Indian team is taking their preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy seriously. After their net session, the team engaged in a warm-up match against India A, starting Friday. However, some of India's top stars, including Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, failed to cross the 20-run mark on the opening day of the practice match.While these are still early days in the preparations, the Indian team will be hoping to find their form and build momentum ahead of the first Test against Australia on December 17.

India's Bowling Depth Poses Significant Challenge for Australia, Says Usman KhawajaAhead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian opener Usman Khawaja has emphasized the formidable depth of India's bowling attack, cautioning that it extends beyond the renowned Jasprit Bumrah.While acknowledging Bumrah's exceptional abilities, Khawaja highlighted the equally impressive skills of Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. "Everyone talks about Jasprit, but they actually have a lot of other good bowlers," Khawaja told Fox Cricket. "I think [Mohammed] Siraj is a very good bowler. He's a very good bowler to both right-handers and left-handers."Khawaja also praised Shami, describing him as "very underrated" and a "very good bowler" when fit. He further noted the presence of quality spinners in India's lineup, complementing their fast bowlers."So for me it's never ... I'm just not thinking about Jasprit Bumrah," Khawaja explained. "I'm thinking about where am I scoring runs against him. And I'm sure all good batsmen would tell you exactly the same thing because if he misses, well, then I'm coming and then if he bowls good stuff, then I'll respect that."Khawaja's approach to facing India's bowlers is centered on scoring runs rather than dwelling on the possibility of getting out. "You want to ask me where do you think... I'm not thinking about where he is getting me out," he said. "I'm thinking about where am I scoring runs against him."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy commences on November 22nd in Perth, with the second Test scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval under the lights. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will culminate with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Australia's Usman Khawaja has shared his insights on facing India's enigmatic fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, acknowledging the initial awkwardness of his unique action but emphasizing that it becomes more manageable with familiarity.Khawaja, who has faced 155 deliveries from Bumrah in seven Test innings, has managed to score 43 runs without being dismissed. He attributes this to adjusting to Bumrah's unconventional bowling style."Initially, it's his action that stands out," Khawaja explained. "It's different and bizarre, with his release point much higher than other bowlers. He seems to push the ball out further, making it appear faster than expected."However, Khawaja believes that once batters become accustomed to Bumrah's action, they can better anticipate his deliveries. "It's fine once you get used to it," he said. "I've played against him a lot, and while he can still dismiss me early, it's not as awkward as the first time."Despite the focus on Bumrah, Khawaja cautions against overlooking the rest of India's bowling attack. "They have a lot of other good bowlers," he said. "Mohammed Siraj is excellent against both right-handers and left-handers. Mohammed Shami is underrated, and they have quality spinners as well."Khawaja emphasizes the importance of not dwelling on Bumrah's threat but rather focusing on scoring runs against him. "I'm not thinking about where he's getting me out," he said. "I'm thinking about where I can score runs. That's what good batsmen do. If he misses, I'll capitalize; if he bowls well, I'll respect it."With Australia set to face India in a five-match Test series, Khawaja's experience against Bumrah will be invaluable. The series begins on November 22 in Perth, and Khawaja will be expected to play a key role as Australia's opening batsman.