Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah once again proved his mettle on the second day of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia, picking another brilliant five-wicket haul at the Gabba. Despite Australia dominating for large parts of the day, Bumrah’s persistence gave India a vital lifeline, reducing the hosts to 347 for 6 at the time of writing this article.
Bumrah, 31, picked up his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, his fourth on Australian soil. This milestone brings him level with legendary spinner Anil Kumble in terms of five-fors in Australia. Only Kapil Dev, with 23 such hauls, stands ahead of him among Indian bowlers in Test history.
After rain restricted play to just 13.2 overs on Day 1, India faced an uphill task as they resumed bowling under challenging conditions. Bumrah struck early, dismissing both Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney within the first hour, showcasing impeccable seam control and unrelenting accuracy.
AUS vs IND 3rd Test Day 2 Live
However, the day soon turned into a testing one for the Indian bowlers. Steve Smith and Travis Head staged a remarkable counterattack, stitching together a massive partnership. Head’s blistering 160-ball 152 and Smith’s elegant century put Australia in command as the Gabba pitch began to ease.
As the second new ball was taken in the 80th over, Bumrah returned to the attack with renewed vigor. His spell was nothing short of masterful, dismissing Smith with a delivery that drew the batter into a false drive, with Rohit Sharma completing a sharp catch at slip. Mitchell Marsh followed shortly, edging to Virat Kohli at second slip after a tentative prod.
The standout moment, however, was the dismissal of the in-form Head. Bowling round the wicket, Bumrah delivered a peach of a delivery that angled in before straightening just enough to find the edge, leaving Head stunned.
In a span of just 12 balls, Bumrah removed three key Australian batters, bringing India back into the game after a punishing afternoon session. “Again and again, he hits that length that brings the batter forward but doesn’t allow them to drive. It’s a masterclass in relentless bowling,” noted former cricketer and commentator Michael Vaughan.
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