Mohammed Siraj credits Jasprit Bumrah’s simple yet deadly advice for his wicket-taking burst against South Africa at Eden Gardens. The senior pacer’s counsel to “attack the stumps” helped Siraj bounce back from an expensive opening spell to claim two crucial wickets.​

The Golden Advice

Speaking after day one’s play, Siraj revealed the exact guidance Bumrah provided during a crucial phase of the match. “Jassi bhai just told me that the wicket-taking option was if you bowl at the stumps—you’ve got LBW, bowled, and even catches coming into play when the line is accurate,” Siraj told commentators on JioHotstar.​

That straightforward philosophy proved devastatingly effective. Siraj finished with figures of 2/47 in his 12 overs after leaking 25 runs in his first three overs. His two wickets came in the same over during the second session, removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen to accelerate South Africa’s collapse.​

Bumrah’s Masterclass

While Siraj benefited from the advice, Bumrah led by example with a sensational five-wicket haul. The pace spearhead returned figures of 5/27 in 14 overs, becoming the first fast bowler to take a five-for on the opening day of a Test in India since Ishant Sharma in the 2019 day-night Test against Bangladesh at the same venue.​

Bumrah dismissed both openers—Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram—in the first session when South Africa looked comfortable at 57/0. He then returned after tea to clean up the tail, bundling out Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj in the 55th over to wrap up the innings for 159.​

Variable Bounce Factor

Siraj explained how the pitch’s behavior influenced India’s bowling strategy. “The new ball was coming on nicely to the bat, but when the ball went soft, the bounce became low as well. My mindset was to bowl full and at the stumps,” he said.​

He noted the pitch was behaving differently at either end. “One end is fine to bat, the other end—the bounce is variable and it’s tough to score,” Siraj observed, highlighting the challenges faced by South African batters throughout the day.​

Reverse Swing on Offer

Beyond the variable bounce, Siraj identified reverse swing as another weapon at India’s disposal. “There has been some reverse swing on offer. If you bowl stump-to-stump, you’ll get options to take wickets and it isn’t easy for batters to score runs,” he explained.​

This combination of reverse swing and attacking the stumps created multiple dismissal options—LBW, bowled, and catches from inside edges—exactly as Bumrah had predicted.

India in Control

After dismissing South Africa for 159, India closed day one at 37/1 in 20 overs, trailing by 122 runs with KL Rahul and Washington Sundar at the crease.​

Siraj expressed satisfaction with India’s position. “We are in a good position having lost just one wicket. Earlier, Markram and Rickelton put on a good stand, but we did well to come back, and I think we’re ahead in the match at the moment,” he stated.​

Bumrah’s Philosophy

Bumrah’s advice to Siraj reflected his own bowling philosophy, which he elaborated on after the day’s play. “In Test cricket, if you need success, you need to be patient. You have to control your temptations,” Bumrah said.​

“Yes, this pitch has a bit of help. It’s not a dead wicket. But you need to be patient. If you’re off the mark, run-scoring can be quick. If you’re not disciplined, you will pay the price,” he added.​

The master’s lesson worked perfectly—by keeping it simple and focusing on basics, India’s pace duo dismantled the world champions to seize control of the first Test.