A humorous interaction between Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj during India’s first Test match against Bangladesh has been making waves on social media. The light-hearted moment occurred during the 19th over of Bangladesh’s second innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. On the fifth delivery, Bumrah bowled a short ball down the leg side to Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who pulled it toward deep backward square leg where Siraj was fielding. Siraj dived to his right and successfully saved valuable runs for India. However, after getting up, Siraj gestured that he hadn’t been able to see the ball properly. Sensing an opportunity for some fun, Bumrah mockingly gestured for Siraj to put on the sunglasses he had perched on his hat, playfully teasing his teammate.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was full of praise for Bumrah’s performance, noting that the ace pacer is a complete bowler without any noticeable weaknesses. In the second innings of the match, Bumrah was the standout performer, taking 4 wickets for 50 runs in his 11 overs at an economy rate of 4.50. His victims included key players like Shadman Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Hasan Mahmud, and Taskin Ahmed.
Manjrekar lauded Bumrah’s ability to adapt to different conditions and opposition, showcasing his sharp cricketing intellect and versatility. He highlighted how Bumrah not only excels in executing his variations but also brings a certain “meanness” to his bowling when necessary, as seen in his delivery to Taskin Ahmed. According to Manjrekar, the true measure of greatness in a bowler is their ability to perform consistently across varying pitches and against different opponents, and Bumrah fits that description perfectly. Indian cricket, he added, is fortunate to have a bowler of Bumrah’s caliber in their ranks. The match also marked a significant milestone for Bumrah, as he reached 400 wickets in international cricket, becoming only the 10th Indian bowler to achieve this feat. His brilliant performance against Bangladesh further solidified his status as one of India’s premier fast bowlers, while his light-hearted exchange with Siraj offered fans a glimpse of the camaraderie within the Indian team.
