Jasprit Bumrah led India’s fast bowling attack in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, making an early impact with two wickets for nine runs in seven overs. On the sixth ball of his seventh over, he trapped South Africa captain Temba Bavuma in front of the stumps, but the on-field umpire ruled him not out.
After the appeal was rejected, Bumrah discussed taking DRS with his teammates. Frustrated by the decision, Bumrah was heard on the stump mic saying, “Bauna bhi hai b*******” (meaning “He’s a dwarf too”), referring to Bavuma’s short stature. The clip quickly went viral, triggering criticism on social media. Many fans have expressed disappointment over his remarks, with some urging Bumrah to apologise for the comment.
Bavuma’s Short Stay at the Crease Ends
Bavuma, batting at No. 4, managed just 3 runs from 11 balls before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav on the sixth ball of the 16th over. The catch was completed by Dhruv Jurel at leg slip, giving India an early advantage.
Sai Sudharsan Omitted from India’s Playing XI
Another talking point ahead of the first Test is the exclusion of Sai Sudharsan from India’s playing XI. The team management chose to experiment with Washington Sundar in the lineup, while Karun Nair had already been dropped after underwhelming performances in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in England.
Sudharsan had modest returns in the India A warm-up matches against South Africa A, scoring 32, 12, 17, and 23. However, he had impressed in the recent Test series against the West Indies, registering scores of 87 and 39. The 24-year-old has accumulated 273 runs in nine Test innings at an average of 30.33, including two fifties, while his first-class career features 2,562 runs from 38 matches at an average of 39.41, with eight centuries and nine half-centuries.
