India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah celebrated his 31st birthday on the opening day’s play of the Pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide on December 6. However, the day took an ironic twist as Bumrah etched his name in an unusual record. The day-night Test format always brings its unique challenges, especially under lights. Winning the toss, the Indian team opted to bat first on a surface that promised some assistance for the bowlers early on.
India’s Opening Woes
India’s innings started disastrously when Yashasvi Jaiswal fell to the very first ball. The opening pair’s setback put immediate pressure on KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. However, the duo showed resilience, stitching a vital 69-run partnership to stabilize the innings.
Just when things seemed to be settling, Mitchell Starc unleashed a spell of lethal bowling. The left-arm pacer’s precision and swing saw India collapse from a steady 81/2 to a precarious 141/8. Starc’s dominance set the tone for Australia’s charge.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Walk to the Crease
Walking in at No.10, Jasprit Bumrah faced an uphill task. India’s score read 141/8, and Bumrah was tasked with providing some much-needed resistance alongside young Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Bumrah started cautiously, showing solid defensive technique. Together with Reddy, the pair added 35 runs, frustrating the Australian bowlers momentarily. However, Bumrah’s resilience ended after just seven deliveries when he edged a Pat Cummins delivery to Usman Khawaja at slip.
Bumrah’s Unique Birthday Record
Bumrah’s dismissal for a duck made him the fourth Indian cricketer to achieve this unfortunate feat on their birthday. This rare record includes Syed Kirmani, Venkatapathy Raju, and Ishant Sharma.
Syed Kirmani’s Birthday Duck in 1978
The first instance occurred in 1978 when wicketkeeper-batter Syed Kirmani was dismissed for a duck against West Indies during a Test in Kolkata.
Venkatapathy Raju’s Birthday Duck in 1996
In 1996, left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju joined the list, scoring a duck on his 27th birthday at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Ishant Sharma’s Birthday Duck in 2018
Ishant Sharma faced a similar fate in Southampton during India’s England tour in 2018. He was trapped LBW by Ben Stokes on his 30th birthday.
Despite the birthday hiccup, Bumrah remains a cornerstone of India’s cricketing success. With countless match-winning spells, he’s among the finest pacers India has ever produced.
Indian players to get a duck on their birthday in Tests
| Player | Test Match |
| Syed Kirmani | India vs West Indies, Kolkata (1978) |
| Venkatapathy Raju | England vs India, Nottingham (1996) |
| Ishant Sharma | England vs India, Southampton (2018) |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Australia vs India, Adelaide (2024) |
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