Who said what - top 5 expert reactions to Jasprit Bumrah's excellent spell of 5/27 on Day 1 of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Jasprit Bumrah stole the show on the opening day of the India vs South Africa Test series in Kolkata. The star Indian fast bowler bowled a magnificent spell of 5/27 to help India bowl South Africa out for just 159 runs in the first innings.

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first at the Eden Gardens. Openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram guided the visitors to 57/0 inside 11 overs, but Bumrah sent both the batters back to the dressing room in quick succession. He dismantled Rickelton's stumps before dismissing Markram caught behind.

The Proteas never recovered after that double strike. The other Indian bowlers joined the party as well. Jasprit Bumrah further took the wickets of Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj (all of them dismissed LBW) to end with figures of 5/27 in 14 overs.

Fans and experts from across the world hailed Jasprit Bumrah for his excellent performance. Here's a look at the top five comments from experts.

---

#1 Irfan Pathan hailed Jasprit Bumrah

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan posted a picture of Bumrah on X and called him 'full of class' after the first innings ended. Pathan comes from the state of Gujarat, just like Bumrah, and he was delighted to see the right-arm pacer bag five wickets at the Eden Gardens.

"Jasprit Bumrah is just full of Class!" Pathan tweeted.

The tweet from Pathan received many positive replies from cricket fans on X. Over 10,000 fans have liked this post on X already.

---

#2 Another former Indian fast bowler Dodda Ganesh was in awe of Bumrah

Dodda Ganesh played four Tests and one ODI match for India. The former Indian pacer had started his Test career against South Africa in January 1997, and he was over the moon to see Bumrah dismantle the same opponent on November 14, 2025.

"Bumrah is a genius. Absolute genius," Ganesh wrote on X.

It is pertinent to note that Bumrah maintained a miserly economy rate of 1.93 runs per over. Five out of his 14 overs were maiden overs.

---

#3 Sanjay Bangar pointed out the special ability of Bumrah

Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar highlighted how Bumrah had the rare skill to take wickets without setting an attacking field. Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo after the end of the day's play, Bangar said:

"What stands out about Bumrah is that he can bowl aggressively without having attacking fields. When the field is in a ring fashion, you feel the bowlers are probably bowling with a defensive mindset. But what he does differently is even with those defensive field set, he becomes a potent weapon."

Bangar further said that in overseas conditions batters can still score against Bumrah when a defensive field is set, but in Indian conditions, where the surface is slow, the batters find it challenging to score runs even in a defensive field.

---

#4 Vernon Philander reacted to Jasprit Bumrah's brilliant spell

Former South African fast bowler Vernon Philander said that Bumrah did not bowl express pace at Eden Gardens, but his variations made the batters' lives difficult. Talking about Bumrah's spell on ESPNCricinfo after stumps on Day 1, Philander said:

"He never lets the batter off the hook and his deliveries always finish at off-stump or at worst middle, never allowing batters to clip him. The skiddy bouncer, the yorker, so there is so much to process as a batter."

Philander hailed Bumrah for not allowing any rest to the batters. In Philander's view, Bumrah's intensity made him a special bowler.

---

#5 Aakash Chopra said there's no one like Jasprit Bumrah

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Bumrah for his unpredictability as a bowler. Chopra opined that there is no bowler like Bumrah in the cricket world right now and said on Star Sports:

"He bowls full and short with the new and old balls, and changes the angles. He is not predictable at all. There is indeed no one like Jassi."

Chopra concluded by saying that Jasprit Bumrah has done an incredible job for the Indian team in Test cricket. It will be exciting to see if Bumrah can register another five-wicket haul in the second innings of this match.

Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news

Edited by Vinay Chhabria