Jasprit Bumrah’s Masterclass: How He Outfoxed Mushfiqur Rahim in the 1st Test Against Bangladesh

For a young Jasprit Bumrah, the sight of perfectly executed yorkers on television was nothing short of thrilling. The brilliance of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis left an indelible mark on his mind, and that first delivery—the fast, unplayable yorker—became a weapon that Bumrah would hone over the years. Fast forward to today, and watching Bumrah with the ball in hand is an exhilarating experience, even from the far corners of a cricket stadium. Whether it’s a mean yorker to uproot stumps or a cunning setup to fox world-class batsmen, Bumrah continues to elevate the art of fast bowling.

In the 1st Test between India and Bangladesh, Bumrah displayed his mastery yet again. Taskin Ahmed was already dismissed by a brutal yorker that had the crowd roaring. But it was Bumrah’s setup of Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s most consistent Test batsman, that stood out as a tactical masterpiece. Mushfiqur, on his way to becoming the first Bangladeshi to play 100 Tests, had to survive Bumrah’s spell under trying conditions.

The Chennai heat was stifling, and the pitch offered little assistance to the pacers. Even the new ball offered minimal lateral movement, and the spinners struggled to trouble the Bangladesh batsmen. In this challenging environment, Bumrah took charge. From the first over, he was on fire, dismissing Shadman Islam with a precise delivery. But the highlight came in the post-lunch session when Bumrah outwitted the experienced Mushfiqur.

With no swing or reverse swing to speak of, Bumrah focused on varying his deliveries, mixing up lengths and lines to keep Mushfiqur guessing. For eight deliveries, Bumrah tested him with good-length balls—some angling away, some shaping in. Mushfiqur, well-versed in Bumrah’s tactics, appeared comfortable, shouldering arms to those that moved away and getting the bat on those that straightened.

But Bumrah had a plan. The ninth delivery came, and this time, Bumrah unleashed a deceptive ball that angled in, yet moved just enough to take the edge of Mushfiqur’s bat. KL Rahul at second slip was more than ready, pouching the catch with ease. Mushfiqur, taken aback, paused and replayed the delivery in his mind. He had played a textbook shot, but Bumrah’s delivery was outside the syllabus—a ball only a bowler with supreme skill and game awareness could produce.

Reflecting on the dismissal, Bumrah explained to JioCinema how he had carefully assessed the conditions. The ball, now 41 overs old, wasn’t offering much movement. However, a spongy bounce on the surface gave Bumrah just enough to make things difficult for the batsmen. By mixing his lengths and inducing lateral movement when least expected, Bumrah managed to get the crucial breakthrough.

The challenge didn’t end there. Taskin Ahmed, next in line, expected another toe-crushing yorker. But Bumrah, aware that reverse swing was absent, opted to mix things up further. Bending his back, he delivered a fiery bouncer that struck Taskin on the helmet. After nine deliveries of calculated pressure, Bumrah went back to his trademark yorker. In the 43rd over, he produced a perfect delivery—fast, precise, and landing right at the base of the stumps. Taskin had no answer as his stumps were shattered, a fast-bowling exhibition of the highest order.

Jasprit Bumrah’s spell on that sweltering day in Chennai was a testament to his versatility and intelligence as a bowler. Whether setting up a batsman like Mushfiqur Rahim or delivering a knockout blow to Taskin Ahmed, Bumrah proved why he’s one of the finest fast bowlers in modern cricket. With every spell, Bumrah adds to his growing legend, turning Test cricket into a thrilling theatre of pace, precision, and unmatched skill.