India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant spell against South Africa on the opening day of the first Test at the Eden Gardens. After the Proteas had gotten off to a strong start thanks to openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton's 57-run stand, Bumrah went on to lead the Men in Blue's fight back and dismissed both the batters in quick succession.
Bumrah's fiery spell in first session
Bumrah rattled Rickelton's wickets with a peach of a delivery before Markram knicked a delivery straight into the hands of Rishabh Pant. It was Rickelton's dismissal that saw Bumrah surpass Ravichandran Ashwin on an elite list. He has now become the Indian bowler with the third most bowled wickets taken in international cricket.
Bumrah now sits at the third place on the list with 152 bowled wickets while Ashwin is at 151. The only two Indian bowlers ahead of Bumrah on the list are Anil Kumble with 186 bowled wickets and Kapil Dev with 167 bowled wickets. Notably, Ravindra Jadeja also has a chance to overtake Ashwin on the list in the coming matches as he currently has 145 bowled wickets under his name so far.
Indians with the most bowled wickets taken in international cricket -
1. Anil Kumble - 186 wickets
2. Kapil Dev - 167 wickets
3. Jasprit Bumrah - 152 wickets
4. Ravichandran Ashwin - 151 wickets
5. Ravindra Jadeja - 145 wickets
Indian bowlers impress on Day 1
Coming to the match, South Africa finished off the first session on 105/3. Despite making a positive start, the visitors found themselves reeling on 71/3 at one stage. The duo of Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi did try to provide the team with some stability, but the former lost his wicket to Kuldeep Yadav for 24 runs early in the second session.
Soon after, Bumrah would pick up his third scalp of the day in the form of de Zorzi, who departed back to the pavilion for 24 as well. This wicket saw South Africa go down to 120/5 and now it is upto the duo of Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreyne to take the side's innings forward.