It’s a common term in cricket — fast bowlers hunt in pairs. And when the leader of the pack, in this case Jasprit Bumrah runs through the top order to set the tone, it often eases off the pressure from the younger lot.
Putting behind the batting blues of the opening day, India came back strongly to gain firm control over the Perth Test against Australia with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul taking the first-innings lead of 46 - earned through a Jasprit Bumrah fifer - and stretched it past 200 by the end of the second day’s play at the Optus Stadium on Saturday.
On the eve of the opening Test of the latest tussle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Jasprit Bumrah had stressed starting a new tradition of fast bowlers being handed Test captaincy.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah affirmed that his side is not carrying "any baggage" from India of their historic whitewash against New Zealand and offered surety about the team being well equipped for the challenging conditions and series ahead of them.
While the Kangaroos have bested India to claim the World Test Championship 2023 final but Hazlewood felt that winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade has been high up on their wishlist.
While Jurel has only played three matches and was mainly included in India’s touring party for the five-match Test series in Australia as a back-up for regular keeper Rishabh Pant, the 23-year-old impressed during a recent match for India A against Australia A in Melbourne.
While Gambhir is hopeful of Rohit’s availability, he is also happy with the options — both from an opening and leadership standpoint, in case Rohit doesn’t make it.
“What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket. More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit,” Gambhir said in the press conference ahead of the team’s departure for a challenging five-Test tour to Australia.
The 33-year-old quickly cautioned his teammates that the drubbing at the hands of the Kiwis might be a morale boost for Australia, who have not won the BGT series at home since 2014-15, losing in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 editions.
Gilchrist said it will be fascinating to watch the way in which India will bounce back from the debacle when they take on reigning World Test Champions Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
