SA vs IND 2022: His spell was fantastic; he got us back into the game with his two quick wickets – Jasprit Bumrah on Mohammed Shami

India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has heaped praise on his bowling partner Mohammed Shami. India came up with a fine bowling performance as they were able to skittle South Africa at 210 runs in the first innings of the third Test match on Wednesday.

Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he returned with impressive figures of 5-42, which was his seventh five-wicket haul in his 27 Test matches. The ace paceman was right on the money and breathed down the neck of the Proteas batters with inswinging delivery.

Bumrah however feels Shami’s spell just before the Tea break got India back into the contest. Shami scalped two wickets in the same over as he accounted for Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne. Keegan Petersen and Temba Bavuma had added 47 runs for the fifth wicket and both of these batters were looking comfortable at the crease before Shami got the big wicket of the latter.

Shami was able to produce Bavuma’s outside edge which was brilliantly taken by Indian skipper Virat Kohl, with which he completed 100 Test catches and then the fast bowler dismissed South Africa’s wicket-keeper Verreyne as Pant took a good grab to his right.

Bumrah then send Marco Jansen’s off-stump cartwheeling as the tourists took four wickets in the second session to get back in the game.

“His spell was fantastic; he got us back into the game with his two quick wickets. Because at that time, not a lot was happening and he really generated good rhythm, he got control, and he started running in and was bowling at high pace as well. So his control has gotten better over the years and it’s very heartening to see his seam position is one of the best in the world. He’s got a lot of skill, but he has understood his game a lot better now, he’s trying to utilize his game and skills to the best of his potential,” Jasprit Bumrah said at the post-day press conference.

Bumrah added Shami bowls at full throttle and the match situation doesn’t matter for him, which is very heartening from the team’s point of view.

“So that’s very, very heartening to see – whatever the scenario is, whenever he runs in and gives it his all for the team, that’s a very heartening sight for us. And for me as well, to bowl alongside him, whenever he is going through a tough spell or good spell, we have a lot of conversations going on and that really is a great sight to see,” he added.

India has a lead of 70 runs in the second innings and has eight wickets in hand.