Australia vs India: Umpire Paul Reiffel bemused after Jasprit Bumrah takes the bails off at the non-striker’s end

Jasprit Bumrah has had some challenging times in India’s ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The visiting team’s fast bowling unit isn’t full-strength due to some major omissions. Ishant Sharma was ruled out even before the four-match series started due to an injury he suffered while playing for the Delhi Capitals in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League.

In the Day-Night Adelaide Test, Mohammed Shami fractured his forearm and was ruled out of the final three games in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. During the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Umesh Yadav sustained an injury and he isn’t a part of the series anymore. In Ishant, Shami and Umesh’s absence, Bumrah remains as the only experienced seamer in the lineup.

Pressure on Jasprit Bumrah

He has Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini, who both made their Test debuts on the tour, for company. Amidst all the hard work, Bumrah was involved in a funny moment during the third Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. The rib-tickling moment happened when the Aussies had amassed a lead of 259 with Steve Smith and Cameron Green in the middle.

Even as Smith was batting on 51, Green was getting his eyes in, scoring 10 off 17. In the meantime, when Bumrah was going back to his run-up, he took the bails off at the non-striker’s end. Maybe, he was trying to get Smith run out as the latter was coming off a century. Umpire Paul Reiffel noticed the same and he gave a surprising look, which seemed a bit funny to the naked eye.

Here’s the clip:

Look at Paul Reiffel's reaction after Bumrah knocks the bails over 😂 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/294ChqKBB0

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 10, 2021

In the first innings of the SCG Test, Bumrah dismissed opposition skipper Tim Paine and Green. He also bowled the highest number of overs, showing how much skipper Ajinkya Rahane put faith in his potential. At the time of writing the report, Bumrah didn’t get a wicket in the second innings.

In the first two Tests, he picked up eight wickets, not conceding a whole amount of runs. His best figures of 4/56 came in the first innings of the Melbourne Test. The spell of bowling helped India win the match by eight wickets and draw level in the series.