India’s bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah picked up the prized wicket of Usman Khawaja during the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Melbourne. Bumrah was brought into attack to break the stubborn partnership and he did exactly what his team wanted from him.
However, Bumrah wouldn’t have expected to get the wicket this way. It was just short of a length ball which came at about waist height to Usman Khawaja. The ball wasn’t there to pull but the batter went for it as he had done all through the day.
But Khawaja was too early into his shot and the ball went to KL Rahul at midwicket for a simple catch. Later, it was found that the ball had gone off Khawaja’s toe end of the bat. Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t believe his luck and was clearly surprised to get the wicket off such a ball.
Watch: Virat Kohli gets physical with Sam Konstas, furious Ricky Ponting warns India great
Watch: Jasprit Bumrah laughs and mocks Usman Khawaja
𝙅𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞 𝘽𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 🤩
Everything is temporary, but #JaspritBumrah dismissing #UsmanKhawaja is permanent! 🤌
PS: Khawaja has been dismissed by Bumrah 5 times in this series! 😳#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 4th Test, Day 1 LIVE NOW! | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/l26mlyyI7a
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 26, 2024
After picking up the wicket, Jasprit Bumrah was seen laughing and mocking Usman Khawaja as he had dismissed him off such a poor delivery. He was earlier expected to pick up the wicket earlier given he is a partnership-breaker for India.
But he didn’t expect the wicket to come that way. It also broke a threatening partnership for India. Khawaja and Labuschagne stitched together a partnership of 65 runs for the second wicket but the former’s wicket opened up the doors again for the visitors.
Great contest between Sam Konstas and Jasprit Bumrah
Meanwhile, it was a tough morning session for Jasprit Bumrah after a good start in his first three overs. As he has done all the series, Bumrah was all over the Australian openers in the initial phase. He beat the bat a numerous times without much luck in his favor.
But the debutant Sam Konstas had other ideas. The 19-year-old took the attack to the opposition with some courageous batting. His brave batting display put Australia in total command and gave them the earlier advantage after the chose to bat first.
Sam Konstas slams quickfire fifty on debut
Sam Konstas missed a few balls while attempting to sweep and reverse sweep earlier in his innings. But that didn’t stop him and he stuck to his own style. He struck some unexpected scoops and reverse scoops off India’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
One of his reverse scoops even cleared the ropes and went for a six at the gigantic MCG. Konstas’ powerful batting performance disrupted India’s rhythm earlier as Bumrah went wicketless in his first spell. The youngster scored 60 off 65 balls in his maiden Test innings.