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So far it has been a one-man show from Jasprit Bumrah for Team India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskark Trophy series against Australia. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli also shone their centurion knocks but it's Bumrah who has been consistently performing for visitors and has so far taken 18 wickets in five innings. His exceptional bowling led India to a resounding 295-run victory in the first Test in Perth. However, India suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat in the second Test in Adelaide.
Bumrah continued his blitzkrieg in the ongoing third Test between India and Australia at Gabba, where Bumrah single-handedly carried India's bowling attack and took a sizzling six-fer to bundle out Australia for 445 despite Travis Head and Steve Smith's tons. After the Day 3 stumps, Bumrah came to address the press and braved some tough questions.
Bumrah, despite India's struggles, downplayed the added pressure on him. He admitted that the team is in a transitional phase and, as an experienced player, it's his responsibility to shoulder extra burden.
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India's decision to bowl first in the third Test seems to be backfiring them, as Australia went on to amass a massive total. Despite Bumrah's impressive six-wicket haul, India found themselves in a precarious position at 51/4 on the third day. This raised concerns about the team's batting technique and the overall bowling performance, with Bumrah being the lone bright spot.
Team India is going through a transition: Jasprit Bumrah
While assessing Team India's batting, Bumrah during the press conference following Day 3 stumps, said:
“We don’t, as a team, point fingers at each other and we don’t want to get into that mindset where we are pointing fingers at each other that ‘you should do this, you should do that'."
Bumrah admitted the challenges faced by the Indian team in adapting to the unique Australian conditions. He highlighted that three of the seamers used in the series, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana, were inexperienced in Australian conditions, adding to the difficulties faced by the team.
“We, as a team, are going through a transition, new players are coming here and it’s not the easiest place to play cricket. Over here, it’s a different atmosphere with this wicket being a different challenge so yeah, we are not looking at that. As a bowling unit, as I said, we are in transition so it’s my job to help the others. I have played a little more than them so I am trying to help them," Bumrah added.
India left reeling after Day 3 stumps
Talking about the match, while batting first, Australia posted a colossal total of 445 runs riding on centuries from Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101) and Alex Carey's half-century.
Australia's bowlers continued their dominance, dismissing India's top order, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant. At the end of the third day, India were struggling at 51/4, with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma at the crease. India will need a strong partnership from Rahul and Rohit to stage a comeback in the Gabba Test.
