Jasprit Bumrah breaks Wasim Akram's historic record with fifer against South Africa in IND vs SA 1st Test

India's talismanic fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah shattered a major record of Pakistan's Wasim Akram during the first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Bumrah was back to his best as he took a five-wicket haul on Day 1 of the fixture after the Proteas had opted to bat first.

Bumrah made his ball talk as he displayed his class with a lengthy first spell. He took two quick wickets and chipped in another one before coming to wrap the tail with the final two wickets in an over as the hosts bowled the Proteas out for 159.

Bumrah has now shattered a major Akram record with his 16th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. This was Bumrah's 13th fifer against SENA teams (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), the most by an Asian fast-bowler against the SENA teams. 

Most Test 5-wicket haul by an Asian fast bowler against SENA teams:

13* - Jasprit Bumrah (80 Inns)

12 - Wasim Akram (75 Inns)

11 - Kapil Dev (111 Inns)

9 - Waqar Younis (74 Inns)

8 - Imran Khan (61 Inns)

8 - Zaheer Khan (102 Inns)

8 - Shoaib Akhtar (36 Inns)

South Africa had opted to bat first. India went with four spinners for the first time since 2012 as they fielded Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav in the team for the opener in Kolkata. 

Historic five-for for Bumrah

Bumrah's dominance intensified in the latter stages, claiming the wickets of Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj to wrap up South Africa’s innings. His final wicket was a yorker on off stump that Maharaj could only tap with his boot, sealing Bumrah’s five-wicket haul and earning applause throughout the Eden Gardens.

Bumrah finished with figures of 14 overs, 5 wickets for 27 runs, maintaining a miserly economy of under two runs per over.

His spell was reminiscent of other iconic performances, making him the first fast bowler since Ishant Sharma in 2019 to take a five-for on Day 1 of a Test in India, and only the second pacer after Dale Steyn in 2008 to achieve such a feat in Indian conditions.