BGT 2024-25: Manjrekar Applauds Bumrah's Fiery Spirit
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Sydney, Jan 3 (NationPress) Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah, typically recognized for his composure, displayed a unique side when tensions rose in the final over of Day 1 of the fifth and concluding Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Young batsman Sam Konstas, who has persistently provoked Indian players since his debut in the fourth Test held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was engaged in an animated discussion with Bumrah from the non-striker's position.
Nonetheless, it was Bumrah who had the last word on the subsequent delivery, as he successfully caught the outside edge of Usman Khawaja's bat on the final ball of the day, leading to a catch by K.L Rahul at second slip, dismissing Khawaja for just two runs. Notably, a visibly pumped-up Bumrah delivered a send-off to Konstas, with his fellow Indian fielders joining in, as the visitors celebrated at the end of a challenging day.
"Indeed, they are all fired up, and it’s fantastic to witness this level of emotion at the conclusion of a lengthy series. Bumrah has been exceptional, and the term 'great' hardly encapsulates his bowling prowess. Observing him so energized is quite a rarity.
"Sam Konstas—there's definitely something about him that irritates the Indian players. You also spotted Virat Kohli in the background, visibly energized. If Bumrah is displaying this intensity, it's certainly something noteworthy.
"Overall, it’s commendable to see the players exhibiting such energy towards the end of an extensive series. Shubman Gill is also highly motivated, and contrastingly, it’s refreshing to have players like Washington Sundar and K.L Rahul maintain their calmness. It was enjoyable to observe, especially supported by some top-notch cricket," stated Manjrekar on Star Sports after the Australians wrapped up the day at 9/1.
In a captivating day of Test cricket, seamer Scott Boland excelled with his relentless performance, taking 4-31, as Australia restricted India to a mere 185 runs. Former Australian cricketer Simon Kaitch commended Boland for his outstanding contributions throughout the series since stepping in for the injured Josh Hazlewood.
"He’s a crowd favorite, not just at the MCG, where he’s a local hero. Today in Sydney, he received a tremendous reception. His bowling average here in Australia is just above 13.5—it's incredible. He consistently takes wickets in clusters because he targets dangerous areas early in a batsman's innings.
"That’s why it’s unsurprising that he frequently dismisses players on their first ball. Today, Kohli almost fell on his first ball, and Reddy was dismissed on his first delivery because Boland poses challenges around the top of the off-stump with slight movement in both directions. He’s relentless and is a major asset to this team, considering that Josh Hazlewood is also phenomenal. This Australian bowling attack could potentially be regarded as one of the greatest, alongside legends like McGrath, Warne, and Gillespie. That’s the trajectory it’s heading towards," remarked Kaitch.
