Jasprit Bumrah hogs limelight as India put South Africa under the pump on Day 1

Team India concluded Day 1’s proceedings on a high as their bowling unit, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah steamrolled the defending World Test champions, South Africa, comfortably. Winning the toss, Temba Bavuma opted to bat first.

Aiden Markram (31) and Ryan Rickleton (23) looked good for the opening stand as they added 57 runs. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood for India, knocking over Rickleton’s timbre. He doubled his tally in no time as Markram nicked one of his outswingers to a diving Rishabh Pant.

India bolstered their hold over the game further as Kuldeep Yadav joined the act too, packing the Proteas skipper shortly. Temba Bavuma’s (3) early departure left the visitors reeling and they needed something solid to stave off the Indian dominance.

Wiann Mulder (24) and Tony de Zorzi (24) added 43 runs for the fourth wicket, stabilizing the South African ship, momentarily. Once Kuldeep hammered through the fifth-wicket stand, from there South Africa spiralled into the deepest pits of despair.

They lost their last seven wickets in a span of just 45 runs as Jasprit Bumrah wreaked absolute havoc, leaving the visitors in unprecedented woes. Bumrah claimed a fifer, adding the crucial scalps of de Zorzi, Simon Harmer (5) and Keshav Maharaj (0) to his earlier brace. He had support from Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav as the duo plundered four wickets between them. South Africa was bundled out for a modest 159.

India had an early hiccup as they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) early. However, KL Rahul (13*) and Washington Sundar (6*) held fort until stumps as they totted up 37/1 at the end of the day.

Brief scores:

South Africa – 159 (Aiden Markram – 31, Jasprit Bumrah – 5/27)

India – 37/1 (KL Rahul – 13*, Marco Jansen – 1/11)

Final update: India trail by 122 runs