Ben Stokes’ departure at the hands of Jasprit Bumrah during the final session on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam left both him and England captain utterly bewildered. Bumrah, after a brief absence from the attack, returned to deliver a remarkable cutter, pitching on a good length and nipping in. The ball kept low, sneaking under Stokes’ bat to rattle the off stump. This dismissal not only showcased Bumrah’s skill but also propelled him to become the fastest Indian bowler to reach 150 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in just 6781 deliveries.
With Bumrah temporarily out, England sought to counterattack against spinners, led by Stokes, who scored a quick 47 off 52. However, upon Bumrah’s return, Stokes fell victim to his exceptional bowling once again, mirroring the confusion from a previous dismissal in the Hyderabad Test.
This achievement placed Bumrah as the second-fastest Asian pacer to 150 Test wickets, behind Pakistan’s Waqar Younis, reaching the feat in his 34th appearance. He surpassed the likes of Imran Khan and Shoaib Akhtar in terms of speed, solidifying his place among cricket’s elite.
In a subsequent over, Bumrah further showcased his prowess by dismissing Tom Hartley, securing his 10th five-wicket haul. This accomplishment marked Bumrah as the second-fastest Indian fast bowler to achieve this milestone, trailing only Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, both with 11 five-wicket hauls each. His final figures of 6 for 45 were not only his third-best but also his best on home soil, highlighting his dominance in the Indian conditions. This performance was Bumrah’s second five-wicket haul in India, building on his success against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022 when he recorded figures of 5 for 24.
Watch: Jasprit Bumrah pulls a ‘ripping’ yorker shatters in-form Ollie Pope’s stumps in 2nd Test
Jasprit Bumrah delivered an enthralling bowling display against England in the second session of Day 2 in Vizag, making a significant impact. In a compelling second spell after lunch, Bumrah claimed consecutive wickets, dismissing Joe Root with an outswinger and shattering Ollie Pope’s stumps with a blistering yorker in the 28th over. Notably, this marked the fifth time Bumrah had dismissed Pope in 10 innings, a crucial breakthrough considering Pope’s impactful 196-run performance in the previous Test in Hyderabad.
Pope’s wicket became the fourth loss for England in the second session, placing them in a precarious situation. Earlier in the day, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden double century propelled India to a total of 396 in the first innings. Jaiswal reached his double hundred with a six and a four against Shoaib Bashir.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah reprimanded for ‘inappropriate physical contact’ with Ollie Pope during First Test
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