Jasprit Bumrah was finally rewarded for his exceptional performance in the limited overs formats for India as he received his maiden test cap in the first test between India and South Africa. His inclusion to the playing XI at first left fans confused as it was strongly anticipated that the pace attack would be led by Ishant Sharma.
But captain Virat Kohli rather decided for Jasprit Bumrah and he got his first wicket as AB De Villiers.
After Faf Du Plessis decided to bat first, it was one disastrous start for the hosts at Bhuvneshwar Kumar ripped through the top order reducing the hosts to 12/3 in just half an hour of play.
He laid a perfect foundation with this dream spell for others to capitalize but AB De Villiers took the attack to the opposition and shifted pressure back upon the bowlers. De Villiers and Du Plessis stitched a crucial partnership of 114 runs before AB De Villiers was bowled by Bumrah. First test wicket and that too of ABD, Bumrah has all the reasons to remember his first test wicket forever.
De Villiers becomes Bumrah’s first victim: Video
Image Source: Twitter
Soon after the lunch break ended, De Villiers was sent back by Bumrah on 65 and then the skipper too was sent back to the pavilion by Hardik Pandya for 62. Bumrah has always been clinical with his line and length and has made rare errors.
De Villiers was trying to drive the ball on the rise but the ball came in a little and took the inside edge of De Villiers’ bat to hit the stumps. This is how Bumrah got his first fish in test cricket and you got to say that it was one of the biggest in the sea.
— Nakul Gupta (@CCdhanushree) January 5, 2018
India has dismissed half of the South African side and has got the upper hand in this clash of the Titans. This is surely not the start the hosts would have anticipated and India on the other hand, would be on cloud 9 with such a great start but it is crucial that India does not let this slip away.
The other good news for India is that Shikhar Dhawan who was initially ruled out from the first test due to his injury has recovered and is a part of the playing XI.
After India get rid of all the South African wickets, Shikhar Dhawan along with Murali Vijay would have the great responsibility of giving India a cautious and a stable start at the top of the order.
