It was a spell that spanned 60 minutes, consisted of 4 maidens and witnessed him delivering two unplayable pearlers. Jasprit Bumrah was in his element at the Eden Gardens as he delivered one of the spells of the year to single-handedly carry India in Kolkata after they were asked to bowl first.
Bumrah, one of just two seamers in the XI for India on the day, delivered the first over of the Test, and it was evident that this was going to be a rough few overs for the hosts, who were bowling first.
There were separate deliveries that kept low and rose up off a length, but there was no swing or lateral movement. It was evident that ‘magic’ was required to help India break through, with the surface being largely placid, at least at the very beginning.
The magic did not come from the other end. By the end of the first hour, Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel had bowled six overs between them and had conceded an eye-watering 45 runs while barely inducing a false stroke. Boundaries flowed, almost as if this were an IPL game.
And then there was Bumrah at the other end: by the time he wrapped up his marathon seven-over first spell, he had conceded just nine runs, bowled four maidens and dismissed both South African openers while also nearly taking down the captain.
Going back to magic, it came from the hands of Bumrah – not once but twice. The first to depart was Ryan Rickelton, who for 21 deliveries had been perfect, striking four boundaries while racing to 23. And yet he had no clue nor chance come the 22nd delivery, as he was castled by a ball that came in with the angle, pitched and seamed away ever so slightly to grace the outside of the off-stump.
Aiden Markram was the next to depart. The right-hander took 22 balls to get off the mark, but had amassed 31 off his next 25 balls. Markram’s rhythm was on point; he was toying with the spinners, and the hero of the WTC Final looked like he was setting up for a special innings. And then Bumrah happened.
An effort ball from India’s best-ever pacer – in the seventh over of his hour-long spell – rose up and turned into an absolute snorter, and all Markram could do was fend the ball to the keeper Rishabh Pant. And, just like that, both South African openers were back in the hut.
In walked skipper Bavuma at No.4, and he was almost a goner on his fifth ball. Bavuma was saved by height, just about, and the Proteas breathed a sigh of relief knowing Bumrah was done for the rest of the session.
Bumrah, as we speak, now has 228 Test wickets at an average of 19.70. This was yet another reminder of why he’s the best fast bowler in the world right now, and why he already has a solid claim to be acknowledged as the greatest fast-bowling freak in history.
