'Felt I can dismiss him 6 or 7 times': Jasprit Bumrah breaks silence on being decimated by Sam Konstas

Team India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has revealed how he felt bowling to young Australian opener Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test. Jasprit Bumrah said that he was in control during the first couple of overs and added he could have dismissed the opener six or seven times.

Sam Konstas wanted to put pressure on Bumrah and disrupt the pacer's rhythm by playing ramp shots. The strategy proved effective, as Bumrah failed to dismiss him. Konstas scored a crucial half-century and added an 89-run opening stand. Australia was bowled out for 474 runs in the first innings.

I Felt I Can Get Sam Konstas Out Six or Seven Times in the First Two Overs - Jasprit Bumrah

Speaking to 7Cricket ahead of Day 3 of the fourth Test, Jasprit Bumrah recalled his extensive experience in T20 cricket when asked about Sam Konstas' counterattacking. Bumrah said he had multiple chances to dismiss Konstas in the first two overs but acknowledged that cricket is unpredictable.

“I have experienced heaps of it. I have played T20 cricket a lot - more than 12 years of T20 cricket. Interesting batsman as well and I always felt I was in the game. Never felt I was far away from a wicket,” Bumrah said while speaking to 7 Cricket.

"Initially, I felt I can get him out six or seven times in the first two overs but that’s how cricket goes. Somedays it pays off, it looks good but some days it doesn’t and then you guys will be criticising the same person. So, that’s how cricket is and I love different challenges and always looking forward to a new challenge," he added.

The best fast bowler in the world joins us. Jasprit Bumrah chats about:

- Whether this is the best he's ever bowled
- How he felt bowling to Sam Konstas on Boxing Day
- Why he feels like playing in Australia brings the best out of him
- The current state of the Test#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vlchRCwXjl

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 27, 2024

Sam Konstas Broke Jasprit Bumrah's Long-Lasting Streak in First Innings

Konstas scored 34 runs off Bumrah's opening spell - the most by a batter in Tests so far. The 19-year-old also became the first batter since 2021 to hit a six off Bumrah, breaking his streak of 4,484 balls without conceding one. The right-handed batter scored 60 off 65 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes.

Bumrah leads the bowling charts in the series with 25 wickets in seven innings, including four wickets for 99 runs in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test. Mohammed Siraj is India's second-best bowler, having taken 13 wickets in four Tests.

He's Always Been a Challenge Because... - Jasprit Bumrah on Steve Smith

Jasprit Bumrah also opened up about the challenge of bowling to Steve Smith. Bumrah said that bowlers need to be consistent to counter Smith’s ability to score in different areas. He praised Smith as one of the game's greats, emphasizing the difficulty of dismissing him in Test cricket.

"He's always been a challenge because he's unorthodox, a bit like me when I bowl. He's not a conventional batter , some days he's shuffling, some days he's not. So it brings out a new challenge, obviously he scores in different areas of the ground so you've to be very consistent and bowl good balls every ball," said Bumrah.

"It's always been a challenge, I've always had good battles with him in all formats, having played against him for a long period of time. One of the greats of the game and in this format he's difficult to bowl to. He played a great innings," he added.

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