India's Jasprit Bumrah, who made his Test debut in January this year has rocketed his way into the record books for taking the most wickets in a debut calendar year.
With 45 wickets (so far) from nine Tests, Bumrah has cemented his place as the backbone in India's fast bowling department.
He rattled the Australian batting, returning with figures of 6 for 33 in the ongoing third India vs Australia Test at Melbourne.
He also became the first bowler from Asia to take five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England and Australia.
He had figures of 5 for 54 vs South Africa in Johannesburg, 5 for 85 vs England at Trent Bridge and now 6 for 33 vs Australia at Melbourne.
Bumrah, a quick learner, has added a lethal delivery — the one that goes straight from an angle to the left-handers along with his yorkers, the slower ones and the conventional swing on length. It is his consistency that makes him stand out from the rest.
His unconventional sling-arm action combined with a peculiar release point makes it hard for batsmen to pick him.
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Most wickets in debut calendar year for India:
45 J Bumrah (2018)*
40 Dileep Doshi (1979)
37 V Prasad (1996)
36 N Hirwani (1988)
35 S Sreesanth (2006)
At an average of less than 24, Bumrah has developed into a lethal bowler for India.
Noted TV commentator Harsha Bhogle describes the fast bowler as the poster boy of the Indian bowling attack - fast, accurate and effective.
In the ongoing India vs Australia third Test at Melbourne, Bumrah first accounted for Marcus Harris when he banged one short and forced the southpaw to play the pull. The ball found the top edge and travelled to fine leg. The speedster, earlier, had troubled Harris with bouncers and also struck the batsman's helmet on more than one occasion.
Just before the lunch break on day three, Bumrah then sent a straight, dipping slower one and Shaun Marsh lost track of it and was trapped plumb infront.
The wicket-taking ball was bowled at 111 kph after bowling consistently in the 140s.
He then bowled a fuller one to Travis Head, the ball shaping back to the left-hander, and Head could only see the ball sneak through the gate to crash on to the stumps.
Later, Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood had no answers to Bumrah's fiery onslaught and succumbed to the Indian's fiery bowling.
Bumrah returned with a first-innings haul of 6 for 33.
*(Counting six wickets from the ongoing MCG Test. The story has been updated after Australia's first innings at MCG).
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