IND vs AUS: Steve Smith Highlights Jasprit Bumrah's Unique Bowling Action and Skill Set as a Complete Package

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Australia's top batter, Steve Smith, has praised Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his unique bowling style and exceptional abilities, calling him a "complete package."

Bumrah, who led India in Rohit Sharma's absence, was named Player of the Match after taking eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, helping India secure a 295-run win in the opening Test.

"From the start of his run-up, it’s just all awkward," Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald. "The way he runs in is different to pretty much anyone else, then the last bit of his action is different. I’ve faced him a reasonable amount now, and each time you face him it takes a few balls just to get the rhythm of it in a way."

Unique Bowling Action

Smith was one of Bumrah's victims during a fierce opening spell where Bumrah dismantled Australia's top-order. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram highlighted how Bumrah's release point is closer to the batsman than most bowlers, making it challenging to judge the ball's length. Akram noted that this unique release can rush batters more than expected.

"He releases the ball closer to you than any other bowler, just the way he does it. So maybe it rushes you a bit more than you think, and it’s just an awkward action," said Smith, who was dismissed by Bumrah for a duck.

"Put that together with his skill set—he swings it both ways, he can nip it off the seam, he can reverse it, got a good slower ball, a good bouncer—he’s pretty much the complete package as a bowler."

Bumrah: The Terminator

Former Australian seamer Damien Fleming also praised Bumrah, comparing him to a "Terminator" and describing him as an instinct-driven bowler. "He’s just the Terminator, isn’t he?" Fleming remarked. He emphasized Bumrah's ability to identify weaknesses instinctively and plan his deliveries accordingly.

Fleming recalled Bumrah's famous slower ball dismissal of Shaun Marsh during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy as an example of his tactical acumen. "There’s that famous dismissal of Shaun Marsh [at the MCG in 2018] in the over before lunch. I was commentating at the time, and I could almost pick what was going to happen," Fleming said.

Mastery of Skills

Bumrah's wide range of skills includes outswingers, inswingers, off-cutters, slower balls, yorkers, and bouncers. Fleming noted that having such skills gives Bumrah more options on the field. "Like the Terminator, he’s always stalking the batsmen. And the batsmen know that, but they’re still unsure what’s coming," Fleming added.

India will next compete against Australia in a Pink-ball Test match starting on December 6 in Adelaide.