IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Mohd Siraj go Boom-Boom in Perth to set stage for an enchanting BGT

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IND vs AUS: The romance of Test cricket was in full bloom and boom at the Optus in Perth on Friday (November 22). If one thought it was a familiar tale of Indians failing against the pace and swing of the Aussies, enter stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah.

What an exhibition of fast bowling from the lion-hearted pacer as he broke the spine of the Aussie top order with a demonstration of fast bowling which left everybody in thrall on Day 1 of the first Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Jasprit Bumrah Inspires Indian Bowling Attack

They say fast bowlers hunt in pairs. And Bumrah had chosen debutant Harshit Rana as well for the company. If Bumrah, often called Boom Rahh was menacing in his spell which definitely aided the fast bowlers, Rana showed he was going to soak in the pressure like a sponge and come out firing.

A total of 150 from India in the first innings came in for criticism from those who believe India should score big always. But the way Bumrah responded was brilliant. A day ahead of the Test, Bumrah had talked of his own plans and how fast bowlers make better captains. The reference was to Indian legend Kapil Dev as well as Pat Cummins. Bumrah wanted his moments under the sun and he showed what he could do when given a chance.

Leading Team India By Example

OK, just a stand-in captain, but many had said, given his unorthodox bowling action, Bumrah would not be a big hit in Tests. That was scoffed at and former coach Ravi Shastri had brought into attack Bumrah in Tests many seasons ago.

Today, Bumrah is the go-to fast bowler in any situation and any form of cricket on any type of surface. He has shown a willingness to bend his back even on dust bowls in India, where spinners get an undue advantage. That it boomeranged against India is proof as the Kiwis exposed India.

On Day 1 of the first Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, it was clear, the pressure was on the hosts, not India. Battered by injuries and the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma, India were going into this series as underdogs. Bumrah spoke positively on Thursday and smiled. Today, he was the smiling assassin as India set the tone for the enchanting series

Social media is now engaging in a debate between the two captains, Cummins and Bumrah, both fast bowlers of different styles. The beauty of Bumrah is his action, even though not smooth.

To some, when he hits the deck with the red cherry, it is inexplicable what he does with the ball. And on Friday, to get three batters - Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and former captain Steve Smith all out with leg before decisions, says a story in itself.

He even dismissed his opposite number Pat Cummins caught behind by Rishabh Pant to further push the hosts on the backfoot on a spicy OPTUS Stadium track. As for Harshit Rana, when he rocked the stumps of Travis Head, it was sweet music.

One man who had been waiting in the wings to strike was Mohammed Siraj, who had been under pressure. Fans and experts had talked of him being out of form. Boy, he also found a wicket as he dismissed Mitch Marsh for six and later ended Marnus Labuschagne's stubborn resistance who laboured through 52 deliveries to score 2.

Who would have thought it would be the Indian pace attack which would come out firing like this Down Under? Obviously, this was no fluke and India have ensured the series is alive from Day 1.