Continuous poor forms of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, another batting collapse, and Mohammed Siraj still not contributing as per his potential—there were still gaping holes left for India in the third BGT Test. However, the partnership of Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep stole all the limelight and turned out to be the brightest spark in the game. India were in dire straits. First, Bumrah-Akash Deep forced Gautam Gambhir to jump off his seat when they avoided the follow-on. But that wasn’t that. The duo completely ransacked the Australian bowling unit in the third innings.
Jasprit Bumrah-Akash Deep startle Australia
India handed a 185-run lead to the hosts. Things could have been worse but Bumrah and Akash Deep stuck to their tasks with the bat. However, the duo further damaged the Pat Cummins-led unit with the ball in hand. The Bumrah-Akash Deep combination wreaked havoc on Australia’s batting lineup, reducing the hosts to 60/6 in just 15 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah (obviously) was at his lethal best, dismissing Khawaja with a peach of a delivery that uprooted the stumps and later accounting for Labuschagne with a sharp, rising delivery that nicked the edge. Meanwhile, Akash Deep provided relentless support from the other end, removing McSweeney with a delivery that barely bounced and later forcing Marsh into an error with his sharp accuracy. The pair’s relentless pace and precision left the Australians in disarray, unable to establish any meaningful partnerships.
The turning point came with Bumrah’s aggressive short-ball strategy and Akash Deep’s deceptive movement off the pitch. Travis Head and Alex Carey tried to counter-attack with a few boundaries, but their efforts were short-lived as Siraj and the fielders capitalized on the pressure created by Bumrah and Akash. Ultimately, Australia had to declare at 89/7, handing India a target of 275 runs.
Akash Deep-Bumrah unforgettable stand!
The pair, known for their bowling exploits, showed immense character with the bat too in the first innings. Akash Deep’s gritty determination and Bumrah’s support brought calm to a chaotic situation. They blocked, ran singles, and most importantly, refused to fold under pressure. Slowly but surely, they ticked the scoreboard over, dragging India past the follow-on target.
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