Team India got off to a dream start in the first T20I against Afghanistan as Jasprit Bumrah struck with just the second ball of the innings to remove dangerous opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The early breakthrough not only put India on the front foot but also helped Bumrah reach a significant milestone in his T20 career.
Abhishek Sharma takes a brilliant catch to get rid of Rahmanullah Gurbaz
India wasted no time making their presence felt with the ball, with Bumrah producing the breakthrough on just the second delivery of Afghanistan’s innings. The experienced pacer bowled a back-of-a-length delivery that climbed slightly more than Gurbaz expected.
Looking to guide the ball away rather than play a conventional attacking stroke, Gurbaz was unable to control his attempt. The ball came off his glove and travelled towards the right of Abhishek Sharma, who was alert to the opportunity.
The India all-rounder showed excellent reflexes, quickly moving across and diving low to complete a superb catch. The ball was travelling close to the ground, making the effort even more impressive, but Abhishek got down in time to ensure that it did not escape his grasp.
Here’s the video:
Bumrah bhai aate hi shuru ho gaye 😏🔥
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Jasprit Bumrah reaches significant T20 milestone
The dismissal also carried added significance for Bumrah personally. By removing Gurbaz, the India pace spearhead completed 350 wickets in T20 cricket, reaching the landmark in his 284th T20 appearance.
Bumrah became only the second Indian fast bowler after Bhuvneshwar Kumar to achieve the feat. Overall, he is the third Indian bowler to join the 350-wicket club in T20 cricket, following Bhuvneshwar and Yuzvendra Chahal. It was another notable milestone in Bumrah’s decorated career, but the immediate focus remained on India’s strong start. With Gurbaz back in the pavilion inside the opening over, Afghanistan were forced to rebuild from the outset.
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