IND vs AUS: 'The Sultan of Swing, Seam and Sorcery', Jasprit Bumrah joins elite company in Test Cricket history

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IND vs AUS: When you think of Jasprit Bumrah, words like 'world-class,' 'unplayable,' and 'magician' often come to mind. The Border Gavaskar Trophy opener at Perth only reinforced such prized labels as Bumrah, yet again delivered a bowling masterclass that left Australia gasping for air.

As many as 17 wickets fell on Day 1, which is the most on a single day of Test cricket in Australia since 1952. Among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah stood head and shoulders above the rest. He ripped through the defense of Australia's top order by pitching in with subtle bowling variations.

His top-tier bowling figures of 4/17 on the first day's play were not just numbers on the scorecard but were moments of artistry. Guess what's the highlight of the day? Dismissing two of Australia’s most prized batters, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, that too on consecutive deliveries. This impactful bowling spell literally changed the complexion of the game, especially after India's poor batting display in the first innings as they were bowled out for 150.

Jasprit Bumrah enters elite company in Test cricket history

This year alone, Bumrah has scalped 45 wickets in just 10 Tests and proved once again why he is one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket. During the ongoing Perth Test, Bumrah etched his name into the record books after he entered the elite company in Tests.

With 177 wickets at a superb bowling average of 20.17, he is the second-most efficient bowler in Test history, trailing only England’s Sydney Barnes, who averaged 16.43 in a different era.

Perth has always been a venue where fast bowlers make a telling impact with the ball. While the WACA was the graveyard of many batters for its fiery pitches, Optus Stadium’s drop-in pitches have started to craft their legacy as a bowlers' paradise in their own right and we might start to witness many more fast bowlers to make a mark in the times to come.

India are yet to win a Test at Optus Stadium and the visitors will be banking on Bumrah to change that narrative. As things stand, Australia are still trailing by 83 runs. They finished Day 1 at 67/7. With Bumrah in superb nick, he should be able to take the remaining wickets such that India can raise their bar in the second innings, in the hope of taking the first lead in the series.