IND vs SA: Jasprit Bumrah Surpasses Ashwin, Eyes Kumble and Kapil Dev's Clean Bowled Records in IND vs SA Test

The highly anticipated two-match Test series between India and South Africa has commenced, with the first encounter unfolding at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In this crucial match, Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah once again captivated attention with his exceptional performance. During the initial session of play, he not only rattled South Africa's batting lineup by taking two vital wickets but also etched a significant record into his name.

Toss and South Africa's Early Innings

At the start of the match, Indian captain Shubman Gill lost the toss, and South African captain Temba Bavuma opted to bat first. Aiden Markram and Riyan Rickelton opened the innings for South Africa, providing their team with a solid start. They managed to cross the 50-run mark without losing any wickets, a partnership that was beginning to cause concern for the Indian side. However, Jasprit Bumrah, with his lethal bowling, soon began to turn the tide of the match.

Jasprit Bumrah's Double Strike

The South African opening pair had put on 57 runs when Jasprit Bumrah achieved his first breakthrough, while he clean bowled Riyan Rickelton for 23 runs, sending him back to the pavilion. This wicket came at a time when South Africa appeared to be in a strong position, injecting new energy into the Indian camp. Immediately after this dismissal, Bumrah delivered another significant blow. He had Aiden Markram caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, giving South Africa their second jolt, while markram's dismissal caused South Africa's seemingly strong start to falter, increasing the pressure on the team. Bumrah's back-to-back wickets provided Team India with a crucial opportunity to regain control of the match.

Surpassing Ashwin, Chasing Kumble and Kapil Dev

With the clean bowled dismissal of Riyan Rickelton, Jasprit Bumrah achieved a remarkable milestone. This marked his 152nd clean bowled wicket in Test cricket. With this figure, he surpassed India's legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 151 clean bowled wickets to his name. This achievement underscores Bumrah's sharp pace and pinpoint accuracy. In the list of Indian bowlers with the most clean bowled wickets, only two cricketing legends now stand ahead of Bumrah: Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev. Anil Kumble leads this elite list with 186 clean bowled wickets, while Kapil Dev holds the second position with 167 clean bowled wickets. Given Bumrah's consistent wicket-taking ability, it's widely anticipated that he could soon overtake these two stalwarts as well.

Kuldeep Yadav's Impactful Contribution

Following Bumrah's two wickets, South Africa's score stood at 62 for two. In this situation, Indian captain Shubman Gill handed the ball to spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep lived up to his captain's faith and made an immediate impact, while he dismissed South African captain Temba Bavuma for a mere 3 runs. Temba Bavuma faced 11 balls but couldn't withstand Kuldeep's spin, while his dismissal brought South Africa's score to 71 for three, further increasing the pressure on the team by the lunch break.

The Road Ahead

By the lunch break, South Africa had lost three crucial wickets, and the Indian bowlers had firmly established their grip on the match, while the outstanding performances by Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have put Team India in a strong position. It will now be interesting to see how many runs South Africa manages to score in their first innings and at what total the Indian bowlers manage to dismiss them, while this match will set the tone for the series and will be crucial for both teams as they vie for dominance.