Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Jasprit Bumrah gets player of the match for his 7-72 in Perth Test. Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy was top notch in first Test. Let’s deep dive how magic unfolded at Perth.
Some rare moments in cricket make you stop in your tracks, glue your eyes to the action, and think, “This is what makes the game so captivating.” It’s not just the numbers, the headlines, or match-winning feats. Sometimes, it’s the magic in the air—the spell that takes over a cricket field, leaving both batters and spectators in awe.
Watching Jasprit Bumrah tear through Australia’s batting order in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 at Perth was one such moment. It wasn’t just about the wickets Bumrah took. It was about the raw aura he created, the fear he instilled, and the undeniable certainty of his dominance.
If you still had doubts about Jasprit Bumrah’s stature in modern cricket, his performance in Perth surely buried them. He is, without question, one of the finest fast bowlers the world has seen in recent years.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 4: India beat Australia by comprehensive margin of 295 runs in Perth
Jasprit Bumrah’s magic at Perth
When team India arrived in Perth for the first Test of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the pitch was already a hot topic of debate. Known for its pace and bounce, the Perth Stadium surface promised a tough contest for the batters. But when Bumrah took the ball in the second innings, the pitch seemed to come alive, especially for him.
Bumrah’s performance wasn’t just a product of the conditions, but a show of his skill and his ability to manipulate the ball in ways that left even the best batters scratching their heads. As the stand-in captain for India, Bumrah made a bold move by declaring India’s second innings late on Day 3. The challenge was clear: a target of 534 runs for Australia to chase in a little over a day, with a well-rested India attack waiting to pounce.
And pounce, they did. Australia’s chase quickly turned into a nightmare. Inside the first half-hour of Day 3’s final session, Bumrah had destroyed the Australia top order. By the time he was done, the hosts were reeling at 12/3. The impact was immediate, and the damage was profound. But it wasn’t just the wickets Bumrah took; it was how he took them. Each delivery seemed to be executed with a meticulousness that suggested a level of planning and precision beyond the ordinary.
One delivery, in particular, stood out from the rest and was hailed as one of the finest Bumrah has bowled in his career. Travis Head, who has been a headache for team India in recent times, was in the middle of a solid knock when Bumrah sent him packing with a delivery that had all the hallmarks of a masterstroke.
Read More: BGT 2024-25: Kohli, the leader, proved to be perfect ally for Bumrah, the captain, in Perth
Bumrah, the tactician, had noticed that Head wasn’t particularly comfortable against fuller deliveries with no width. So, Bumrah switched things up by bowling round the wicket, completely cutting off any room outside the off stump. The strategy was simple: offer Head no width, no comfort. Head, already under pressure, began to struggle with his timing. A clever short ball pushed him onto the back foot, unsettling his rhythm further. And then came the clincher—a full, slightly wide ball that tempted Head into a backfoot drive.
It was the perfect trap. The ball moved just enough, with the extra bounce, to take the edge of Head’s bat and send him back to the pavilion. “It’s one of the greatest balls he’s ever bowled,” commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said, and honestly, it was hard to disagree.
Milestones and records
As if dismantling the Australia top order wasn’t enough, Bumrah’s performance in Perth saw him achieve some remarkable milestones. The most significant of these came when he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, whose wicket brought Bumrah’s bowling average below 20. This is no small feat. To put it in perspective, Bumrah became the first active fast bowler to take more than 150 Test wickets at an average under 20, joining an elite club that includes the legendary Sydney Barnes.
This performance also saw him join Kapil Dev in the record books for the most number of five-wicket hauls (7) by an India bowler in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).
And if that wasn’t enough, his 5/30 against Australia was the third-best bowling figure by an overseas captain on Australian soil, trailing only Kapil Dev and Sir Gary Sobers. The numbers were stacking up fast, and they were impressive enough to make even the most casual cricket fan sit up and take notice.
Read More: BGT 2024-25, AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 1: Bumrah reduces Australia to 67-7 after India fold for 150
Bumrah, the captain
Other than Jasprit Bumrah’s individual brilliance, there was another aspect of his performance that stood out: his leadership. Just over a week before the first Test, Bumrah was told that he would lead India in the absence of Rohit Sharma. While Bumrah had captained India previously in England, this was a different challenge altogether. He had to balance his role as the leader with that of the strike bowler; all while making decisions that would impact the outcome of the game.
What followed was a lesson in calm and controlled leadership. Bumrah marshalled his resources with remarkable composure. He kept his bowlers—Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana—on task, encouraging them to bowl long spells of hostile, controlled pace. It was clear that he wasn’t distracted by the added responsibility. He moved his fielders around, made crucial bowling changes, and trusted his instincts. In the end, Bumrah’s leadership was as much a masterstroke as his bowling.
Read More: BGT 2024-25, AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 1: Bumrah reduces Australia to 67-7 after India fold for 150
