Bumrah’s Impact Goes Beyond the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Despite India’s loss in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah delivered one of the most remarkable individual performances by a fast bowler on Australian soil. His dominance was so profound that even off the field, he continues to leave an impression—this time on Mitchell Marsh’s four-year-old nephew, Ted.
Speaking at the Cricket Australia Awards, Marsh revealed a lighthearted moment from his personal life, sharing how his young nephew imitated Bumrah’s iconic bowling action while playing backyard cricket. “My little nephew Ted, he is four years old. We were playing backyard cricket the other day. He came in with Bumrah’s action, and the nightmare continued,” Marsh joked.
Bumrah’s Domination Over Marsh in the Series
Marsh struggled against Bumrah throughout the series, falling to the Indian pacer in the third Test in Adelaide and both innings of the fourth Test in Melbourne. His disappointing form led to his omission for the fifth Test, with selectors opting for Beau Webster in his place.
Reflecting on his experience, Marsh humorously admitted that the reception from Australian fans changed after the series. “Prior to December, I felt a lot of love. Post-December, it was a bit of a different story. All jokes aside, over the last few years, I have felt a lot of love from the Australian fans,” he said.
Marsh endured a tough campaign, managing just 73 runs in four Tests, with a highest score of 47. His inability to contribute with the ball further fueled debates about his place in the team.
Bumrah’s Record-Breaking Series in Australia
Marsh is just one of many Australian players who acknowledged Bumrah as their biggest challenge during the series. The Indian pace spearhead was in sensational form, finishing with 32 wickets in five Tests, averaging an astonishing 13.06 with a strike rate of 28.3.
- His 32 wickets equaled the record for the most by an Indian fast bowler in a Test series.
- It also marked the highest wickets tally for any Indian bowler in an away series.
- Bumrah bowled 151.2 overs, accounting for 24.4% of all deliveries bowled by India and taking 40% of the team’s total wickets.
India leaned heavily on Bumrah’s brilliance, as the rest of the bowling attack often struggled to match his intensity. His incredible performances reaffirmed his status as one of the greatest fast bowlers in Test cricket, leaving a lasting impact—not just on opposition players, but even on the next generation of cricket enthusiasts like Marsh’s nephew.
