AB de Villiers latest addition to Jasprit Bumrah's dream debut wickets list
Jasprit Bumrah bowled AB de Villiers for his maiden wicket on the first day of the opening Test between India and South Africa. The lanky pacer ended the counter-attacking knock of De Villiers in the post-lunch session when the South African batsman was threatening to take the game away from the visitors.
The newest member of the Test squad, Bumrah was surprisingly handed his first Test cap from Indian Captain Virat Kohli ahead of his more experienced peers. Incidentally, the right-arm bowler made his debut in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals in 2015-16 as a replacement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with whom he is playing with in the ongoing Test.
From his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut in 2013 to Test debut in South Africa, the fast bowler has repeatedly shown his ability to perform in his very first match. He has taken vital wickets of big names in world cricket at critical stages.
Bumrah's maiden wickets across formats are Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, David Warner, and AB de Villiers.
Let us take a look at those crucial wickets.
IPL debut (4 April 2013)
Mumbai Indians were impressed with Jasprit Bumrah's pace and swing. Also, the pacer has a slightly slinging action which made him difficult to pick.
Bumrah played his first game against Royal Challengers in 2013. In the first four deliveries of the fifth over of the innings, the fast bowler gave away three boundaries.
With his unusual action, Bumrah bowled the fifth delivery at a good length which hurried onto the batsman. Kohli tried to flick the ball but missed it entirely and got hit on the pads. The batsman was adjudged LBW.
Bumrah returned with the match figures of 3 for 32 which included his maiden IPL wicket of Virat Kohli.
ODI debut (23 January 2016)
After impressing the selectors with three successful years in IPL, Bumrah earned his maiden ODI cap against Australia Down Under in 2016.
In his third over, Bumrah created pressure on the current Australian skipper Steven Smith with three consecutive dot balls. While trying to whack the next delivery which was bowled short of a length, Smith gave an easy catch to short mid-wicket.
Bumrah gave only 40 runs in his quota of 10 overs and picked up the vital wicket of Smith.
T20 debut (26 January 2016)
Three days later against the same opponent, Bumrah made his debut in the shortest format of the game.
Continuing his form of picking up big wickets in his first game, Bumrah took the massive wicket of David Warner in his second over.
The aggressive southpaw attempted to pull the first delivery of Bumrah's second over. The ball came to Warner quicker than he anticipated. He could not time the shot and holed out to mid-on.
Test debut (5 January 2018)
Contrary to experts prediction, Jasprit Bumrah was included in the playing eleven for the first Test against South Africa.
Tottering at 12 for 3 at one stage, South Africa got back into the game with a counter-attacking knock by AB de Villiers. Together with Faf du Plessis, he added more than 100 runs for the hosts.
Bumrah's 140 kph delivery took the inside edge of AB's bat and hit the stumps. Once again, the right arm fast bowler took the vital wicket at the crucial stage of the match.