Jasprit Bumrah ticks right boxes in Ireland T20I series opener: 2 wickets and a fiery over at death
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah kicked off his much-anticipated return to international cricket with a powerful performance in the first T20I of the three-match series against Ireland on August 18. The encounter, held in Dublin, saw Bumrah taking two wickets and conceding 24 runs in his four-over allocation, which revitalised his reputation.
Starting as an opening bowler after winning the toss, India captain Bumrah was an epitome of confidence and resilience. His first competitive over since September 2022 saw him conceding a boundary to Ireland opener Andrew Balbirnie. But he quickly reversed this situation by taking Balbirnie’s wicket in the following delivery and followed it up with a second wicket from wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker’s attempt at a paddle sweep, a shot easily caught by India wicket-keeper Sanju Samson.
Bumrah’s comeback turned heads and hearts as he finished his first over with an impressive return of two wickets for four runs. These stats acted as a reassurance for the Indian team and fans, ahead of the prominent upcoming tournaments – the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.
Bumrah conceded six runs in the first innings’ third over, but ended remarkably by giving away just one run in the 19th over. Indeed, there were signs of his past injury as he leaked 13 runs in the 16th over and bowled his first wide delivery since his return.
Bumrah had strained his lower back in August 2022, forcing him to rest in the 2022 Asia Cup’s sidelines and subsequently miss the 2022 T20 World Cup and 2023 IPL due to a stress fracture in his back.
Post a successful microscopic discectomy in March 2023 at New Zealand’s Christchurch to treat his slipped disc, a carefully charted rehabilitation process was followed. During his tenure at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, Bumrah spent quality time focusing on recovery, personal growth, and bonding with fellow cricketers. His triumphant return to international cricket is a testament to his perseverance and dedication.
