Jasprit Bumrah made history on Thursday by breaking Anil Kumble’s long-standing record to become the Indian bowler with the most Test wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The 27-year-old pacer’s remarkable achievement came after he took three crucial wickets during Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and Australia. Bumrah dismissed Australian batsmen, including Usman Khawaja, on his way to claiming 18 wickets from three Tests at the MCG.
The day started with Australia’s top order making solid contributions, with all of the first four batsmen scoring half-centuries. However, it was Bumrah who had the last laugh, as he delivered a breakthrough for India by removing Travis Head for a duck. Despite conceding runs to debutant Sam Konstas early on, Bumrah came back strong, giving India hope with his skillful bowling in the second and third sessions.
Bumrah’s first victim was Usman Khawaja, who made 57 runs before being dismissed by the ace pacer. With this wicket, Bumrah went past Kumble’s tally of 15 wickets at the MCG, setting a new benchmark for Indian bowlers at the iconic venue. By the end of the day, Bumrah had taken 18 wickets from three Tests in Melbourne, establishing a lead that is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.
India’s bowling efforts were largely driven by Bumrah, who finished with impressive figures of 3/75 after 21 overs. Australia’s total at stumps stood at 311/6, with Steve Smith (68) and skipper Pat Cummins (8) at the crease. Bumrah’s performance is especially notable as he became the first Indian to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Kapil Dev—who have since retired.
The significance of Bumrah’s accomplishment is highlighted further as Kumble, Ashwin, and Kapil Dev no longer compete at the international level, while Umesh Yadav’s future with the Indian squad remains uncertain. Bumrah’s domination of this record will likely ensure that he remains at the top of the MCG leaderboard for years to come.
With Australia continuing their innings, Bumrah’s role in the ongoing Test series will be pivotal to India’s chances, and his place in history is now firmly cemented.
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