AUS v IND 2025: Uthappa’s Insight on Jasprit Bumrah’s Struggles at Melbourne T20I
Jasprit Bumrah faced challenges with the new ball during the second T20 International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), failing to take a wicket in the powerplay overs. Despite his struggles early on, Bumrah managed to claim two wickets in his final over, but the breakthrough came too late to impact the match outcome.
Match Summary
India posted a modest total of 125 runs. The responsibility fell on Bumrah to disrupt Australia’s strong start. However, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head aggressively dominated the Indian bowling, building a 51-run partnership for the opening wicket. Varun Chakaravarthy eventually dismissed Head, but Australia maintained an aggressive approach and chased down the target within 13.2 overs.
Uthappa’s Assessment of Bumrah’s Bowling
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa commented on Bumrah’s bowling approach, observing that the pace bowler tends to lose his flow when attempting too hard to secure wickets early. Uthappa believed that this desperation led Bumrah to deviate from his plans.
“When we were bowling after scoring 125, the start was very important. If we had picked up two or three wickets in the first three or four overs, the game could have been closer because we have quality spinners in the middle overs. I felt we were probably trying too hard to pick up wickets.”
Impact on the Game
- An early breakthrough or two could have shifted momentum in India’s favor.
- Bumrah’s late wickets were not enough to check Australia’s aggressive chase.
- The attempt to force wickets early caused Indian bowlers to lose consistency.
Uthappa’s critique highlights the delicate balance bowlers must maintain between attacking and controlling the game, especially when defending a low total.
Author’s Summary
Bumrah’s intense effort to claim early wickets disrupted his rhythm, allowing Australia to dominate the chase despite his late breakthroughs.