Former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid showered praise on Jasprit Bumrah for his match-winning spell in the opening Test match against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth. India registered their largest win on the Australian soil as they won by 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The visitors were under the pump as they were bowled out for only 150 in the first innings after electing to bat first. However, Bumrah was able to lead from the front as he returned with impressive figures of 5-30. The gun fast bowler accounted for Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Alex Carey in his fine spell.

The ace pacer then bagged 3-42 in the second essay and returned with match figures of 8-82 to clinch the Player of the Match award. 

Rahul Dravid said on Star Sports, “If you talk about someone take a game by the scruff of the neck and absolutely crack it open, that was exactly what Bumrah did with that spell in that first evening and then even in the second innings he picked up a lot of crucial wickets as well.”

“Being captain, leading from the front, taking the game and saying, ‘Give it to me and I’ll show you what I can do and how I can turn it around.’ Brilliant from Bumrah and he has just shown it so much in all formats of the game. The number of times he does it for us is absolutely incredible and hats off to him,” Dravid added.

Bumrah was absolutely sensational for India and delivered as a skipper. The fast bowler will look to continue his good form in the upcoming matches.

The second Test match between Australia and India, which will be a pink-ball game, will be played at Adelaide Oval from December 6 onwards.