Newlands Test, Day 2: With hard work and simple processes, Jasprit Bumrah shuts out the noise

17-2-70-0. With the match on the line, Jasprit Bumrah was, for once, unable to put his best foot forward in the second Test against South Africa. Dean Elgar stayed resolute and the hosts won a famous victory. Seventeen overs without a wicket in the second innings.

It wasn’t like Bumrah bowled badly. He still beat the bat; he still had the batter in trouble but he didn’t get the wickets that India has become so accustomed to him getting.

His ‘no-show’ prompted former South Africa seamer Fanie de Villiers to tell The Indian Express that the hosts had worked Bumrah out.

“I don’t think it is a question of him lacking ability or he bowled badly,” Fanie de Villiers told The Indian Express just a couple of days before the Test began in Cape Town. “I think South Africa has worked him out. Since he has been India’s most important bowler, lots of team discussion has gone on how to tackle and survive Bumrah. I think South Africa has learned their lessons from the first Test.”

But clearly, they haven’t. Bumrah was back in his element at the Newlands. After the batters had let the side down again, the pacer led the bowling unit extremely well to claim his seventh…

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