On Saturday in Vizag, Jasprit Bumrah clean-bowled a well-set Ollie Pope with a yorker as excellent as ever seen in these conditions, demonstrating yet again why he is one of India’s finest fast-bowlers.
Pope, who had produced an MVP-worthy 196 in the previous Test, was batting at 23 (54). He appeared at ease until the fifth delivery of the 28th over, when Jasprit Bumrah slid a quick in-swinging yorker at the base of his stumps.
The ball had crushed two stumps before Pope got his bat down, leaving the third concerned for its life. The Englishman was stunned and walked away, hitting his bat. The Indians were elated. Watch the video below:
There was also a plan behind the craziness. The prior deliveries were all decent length or full balls off of the stumps, with varying speeds. He made sure the batter was completely unprepared for the yorker.
It wasn’t the first time he had him out like that. Even in the first innings in Hyderabad, Pope was undone by the Indian pacer’s inswinger.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up his second wicket in two overs. Just 12 balls earlier, he dismissed former captain Joe Root with another stunning set-up in which he tormented him with balls threatening to come in before bowling one on a length and pushing it away. Root ended up pushing at it with forceful hands, causing it to slip.
Jasprit Bumrah’s twin scalps bring India back into the game
England had gotten off to a quick start with Zak Crawley and were cantering at roughly five runs per over. Rohit Sharma summoned Jasprit Bumrah back just as Axar Patel had got him out. His two wickets took them from 123/2 to 136/4. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow formed a brief partnership, and England were 155/4 at tea time.
