Trending

'I didn't see Virat out of form. On challenging wickets...': Jasprit Bumrah on Virat Kohli not scoring big against New Zealand

India's ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah led the team to their first Test win over Australia at Perth Stadium. This is India's biggest win by runs in Australia.

Sports Tak

• Mon • 25 Nov 2024

India's skipper Jasprit Bumrah (R) and Virat Kohli (L) speak as they walk back to the pavilion at the tea break on day four of the first Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on November 25, 2024.

Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah

Highlights:

Jasprit Bumrah bagged 8 wickets including a five-wicket haul in Perth Test.

The 295-run win helped India reclaim the top spot on WTC 2023-25 table.

Virat Kohli scored his first Test century of 2024.

India's stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah does not feel Virat Kohli was out of form coming to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Kohli did not cross the 20-run mark in the last two Tests of the three-Test series against New Zealand. In the first innings of the Perth Test, he departed for a single-digit score before notching up his 81st Test century. Bumrah felt that there were difficult conditions in India and Kohli wasn't out of form.

"About Virat - I didn't see him out of form at all. On challenging wickets it's hard to judge if a batsman is in form. He was looking good in the nets," Bumrah said in the post-match presentation.

On Day 3 of the first Test, Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 off 143 balls to help India set a target for 534. This was Kohli's seventh Test century on Australian soil. He equalled England's Wally Hammond's tally. The 36-year-old is now only behind England's Jack Hobbs who has nine Test century on Australian soil, the most by a visiting batter.

Kohli dedicated his 30th Test century to wife Anushka Sharma who was in attendance.

"Anushka has been right by my side through thick and thin. She knows everything that goes on behind the scenes. Knows what goes on in the head when you're not performing well. I'm not a guy who hangs around for the sake of it. I take pride in performing for the country," he told Adam Gilchrist after Bumrah declared the innings.

This was Kohli's first Test century of 2024. His last Test century came against West Indies last year.

ALSO READ: 'CSK fought for me during bidding war like they did in 2011': Emotional R Ashwin thanks CSK for his homecoming after a decade

Bumrah's rare feat

Bumrah became the third Indian bowler to take eight or more wickets against Australia in Tests. Bishan Singh Bedi took 10 wickets at WACA, Perth in 1997 whereas Kapil Dev took eight wickets in Adelaide in 1985.

India keep WTC final hopes alive

India beat Australia by 295 runs, their biggest win against Australia in Australia (by run margin). India also became the first team to beat Australia at Perth Stadium. The massive win helped India reclaim the top spot on the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table.