Steve Smith scared of Jasprit Bumrah? Australia great drops colossal statement on pacer

As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is on the horizon, Australian batter Steve Smith has shared his thoughts on facing one of the world’s deadliest weapons, Jasprit Bumrah.

The upcoming five-match Test series promises to be an intense contest between two cricketing powerhouses, and Bumrah’s presence is expected to shift the favor in India’s favor against the Australian cricket team.

Steve Smith, one of the most prolific batters in modern cricket, knows all too well the threat that Bumrah poses. Having been involved in the battle with the Indian pacer multiple times across the format, Smith is well aware that facing Bumrah on Australian soil will be no ordinary task

Steve Smith praises Jasprit Bumrah as the world's best fast bowler ahead of the India-Australia Test series

Jasprit Bumrah, known for his lethal accuracy and unmatched versatility with both the new and old ball, has terrorized batting line-ups across the globe both at home and away. His ability to adapt to different conditions makes him a nightmare for even the most seasoned players.

The Indian pacer, since his debut in 2018, has been a game-changer for India, particularly in overseas conditions. Whether it’s his pinpoint yorkers, deceptive slower balls, or sharp bouncers, Bumrah’s bowling arsenal has left even the finest of batters struggling across the format.

As India prepares to record a third consecutive Test series win in Australia later this year, Bumrah will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in their quest to record a rare and historic Test series.

On the other side, the battle between Steve Smith’s mastery with the bat and Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance with the ball is sure to be one of the most exciting duels of the upcoming high-profile Test series.

Steve Smith, who is inching toward the monumental 10,000-run mark, has leveled Bumrah as the wonder bowler while hailing his excellence to rule with the old and fresh ball. The Australian batter also hailed Bumrah as the best fast bowler across the three formats.

He's a wonderful bowler: Steve Smith on Jasprit Bumrah

Steve Smith was quoted as saying by Star Sports: “He's a wonderful bowler, whether I face him with the new ball, slightly older ball, or even the old ball. He's got great skills with all of them. He's a great bowler, arguably the best fast bowler across the three formats. It's always going to be a challenge.”

Notably, India’s pace attack, led by Bumrah, has evolved into one of the most feared bowling attacks in world cricket. With the ability to exploit even the slightest weakness in the opposition, Bumrah becomes the backbone of India’s bowling strategy. All eyes will be on the Bumrah-Smith face-off in the upcoming prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Bumrah is currently playing in the ongoing two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh at home. Jasprit Bumrah scalped five wickets across the innings to help the hosts win the first Test by 280 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. The second and final Test will be played in Kanpur from September 27.