Is Jasprit Bumrah's Bowling Action 'Illegal'? Here's What Australia Great Said

Days after Team India crushed Australia in the Border Gavaskar trophy's opening test at Perth, former India head coach Greg Chappell praised young Indian side playing without their regular captain. Chappell lauded Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul for displaying outstanding cricket in Ind Vs Aus match.

Australia great also muted social media critics who questioned Jasprit Bumrah's orthodox bowling action.

He said questioning Bumrah's technique undermines both his talent and spirit for sport. "Yet it was Australia's batting performance that was more concerning. India's bowlers, spearheaded by the lethal Jasprit Bumrah, looked sharper and more menacing. By the way, please stop this nonsense of questioning Bumrah's action. It is unique, but it is unequivocally clean. It demeans a champion performer and the game to even bring it up," Chappell stated.

He also expressed concerns about Australia's top order following their 295-run defeat to India in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth. This victory marked India's largest win by runs against Australia on their home turf, surpassing their previous best from 1977 in Melbourne.

Jasprit Bumrah played a pivotal role in India's success. Standing in as captain for Rohit Sharma, Bumrah's exceptional bowling performance turned the game around. He took five wickets in the first innings, limiting Australia to just 104 runs and securing eight wickets overall in the match.

Concerns Over Australia's Batting

Chappell highlighted Australia's batting woes, particularly focusing on Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne has struggled to score a century since July 2023 and managed only two runs off 52 balls and three off five deliveries in the first Test. Chappell believes Labuschagne needs to shift his mindset from survival to scoring.

"Marnus Labuschagne knows he is under pressure. With only 330 runs from his last 16 innings, he must rediscover his form quickly and revert to the free-flowing style of old; two off 52 balls is not good enough. A change of mindset should be his first port of call. He looks to be batting for survival when he really should be looking to score runs. A subtle but important difference," Chappell wrote.

India's Dominant Performance

After dismissing Australia for 104 and gaining a lead of 46 runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul set up a commanding total for India with a partnership of 201 runs. This stand was India's highest opening wicket partnership in Australia, showcasing their dominance.

Chappell praised Jaiswal as an "emerging superstar," likening him to Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. "The pitch, too, evolved, becoming less treacherous. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul capitalised, making the Australian bowlers look ordinary. Rahul's quality is well-known, but Jaiswal is an emerging superstar. The young opener is fearless and appears poised to inherit the mantle of Indian batting excellence, following the likes of Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar," he wrote.

However, Chappell remains hopeful that Australian selectors will not make hasty decisions despite the team's struggles. However, he warns that if they falter again under lights in Adelaide with no changes made, there could be repercussions.