Steve Smith mocking Jasprit Bumrah? Aussie star calls pacer 'awkward': "The way he runs..."

Steve Smith is feeling the heat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, as Australia's star batter faces mounting pressure to deliver big runs at No. 4 after being a major contributor in the hosts crushing 295-run defeat in the Perth Test against India.

India’s bowling sensation and stand-in captain, Jasprit Bumrah, stole the spotlight with his remarkable performance, both as a bowler and leader, in the opening game of the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Steve Smith admits struggles against Jasprit Bumrah

In the Perth Test, Jasprit Bumrah was simply unplayable, taking a staggering eight wickets and playing a key role in India’s dominant 295-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. His brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award in the Perth Test.

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Steve Smith, who was dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings by Bumrah, has recently hailed the Indian pace bowler’s unique approach. According to Smith, Bumrah’s unorthodox bowling action and his release point set him apart from the rest.

Unlike any other bowler in the world, Bumrah’s delivery is released a foot closer to the batsman, making it far more challenging to judge his length and speed, and Smith is one of them.

Jasprit Bumrah releases the ball closer to you than any other bowler: Steve Smith

The Australian batting icon admitted that facing Bumrah is an uncomfortable experience for him. His unusual run-up and awkward delivery action throw batters off, forcing them to recalibrate with every ball.

Steve Smith was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald: “From the start of his run-up, it’s just all awkward. The way he runs in is different from pretty much anyone else, and then the last bit of his action is different. I’ve faced him a reasonable amount now, and each time you face him, it takes a few balls just to get the rhythm of it in a way. He releases the ball closer to you than any other bowler, just the way he does it. So maybe it rushes you a bit more than you think, and it’s just an awkward action.”

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The former Australian skipper Smith also described Jasprit Bumrah as a "complete package," saying that the Indian pacer possesses a full range of bowling skills, making him a constant threat to batters.

He's the complete package as a bowler: Steve Smith on Jasprit Bumrah

He signed off by saying, “Put that together with his skill set—he swings it both ways, he can nip it off the seam, he can reverse it, and he’s got a good slower ball and a good bouncer—he’s pretty much the complete package as a bowler.”

Notably, Bumrah's stellar performance in the first Test against Australia has seen him reclaim the top spot in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings. His impressive figures of 5/30 and 3/42 helped him to surpass the Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood and South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, reaching a career-best 883 rating points—the highest ever by an Indian fast bowler.