Lucknow: Boom Boom Bumrah has once again displayed his unmatched class, virtually knocking the Springboks out of the first Test on Day 1 itself. On a pitch curated to favour spinners, Bumrah’s brilliance stood out. His skill, variety, and sheer willpower allowed him to extract life even from a slow, docile surface—something even cricket pundits had not anticipated. He has reconfirmed why he is regarded as the world’s No. 1 pace bowler in the current era.
India are aiming to win the two-match series against South Africa—reigning world champions—to secure crucial World Test Championship points. The curator, working on the team management’s advice, prepared a track designed to assist spin from the outset. Perhaps underestimating Bumrah’s potency, the team opted for four spinners to capitalise on the expected conditions. However, the decision appears questionable. Leaving out a talented youngster like Sai felt unfair, and realistically, deploying four spinners effectively in a single Test is nearly impossible. The rationale behind the selection seemed to rest on the all-round abilities of Jadeja, Washington, and Axar Patel, whose batting strength was expected to cover for the absence of an additional specialist batter.
South Africa’s batting collapse—engineered largely by Bumrah’s intelligent, incisive bowling—prevented them from puttin g up a fighting total. Yet, despite their modest score, India may still find it challenging to secure a big lead on a dusty track where scoring freely isn’t easy. Jaiswal’s early dismissal offered the hosts a glimmer of hope, but India’s strong batting order remains capable of building a commanding response.
All eyes are also on young Dhruv Jurel, as fans hope he seizes this opportunity to score big and propel his promising career to new heights.
The author is a Former Ranji Trophy & Central Zone Cricketer, a Ranji Coach, Selector & respected Match Referee
