Steve Smith is feeling the pressure in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 as Australia’s star batsman faces increasing pressure to score big runs at No. 4 after being a major contributor in the crushing defeat of the hosts by 295 runs in the Perth Test against India.

India’s bowling sensation and stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah stole the show with his remarkable performance, both as a bowler and pacer, in the opening game of the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia at the Optus Stadium from Perth.

Steve Smith admits struggles with Jasprit Bumrah

In the Perth Test, Jasprit Bumrah was simply unplayable, taking a staggering eight wickets and playing a key role in India’s dominant 295-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in progress. His brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award in the Perth Test.

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Steve Smith, who was dismissed by Bumrah for a golden duck in the first innings, recently praised the Indian bowler’s unique approach. According to Smith, Bumrah’s unorthodox bowling action and release point set him apart from the rest.

Unlike any other bowler in the world, Bumrah’s delivery is thrown a foot closer to the batsman, making it much harder to judge its length and speed, and Smith is one of them.

Jasprit Bumrah throws the ball closer to you than any other player: Steve Smith

The Australian batting icon admitted that facing Bumrah is an uncomfortable experience for him. His unusual run and clumsy delivery action unnerves batsmen, forcing them to recalibrate with each ball.

Steve Smith was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald: “From the beginning of his career, everything is awkward. The way he runs is different than almost anyone else, and then the last part of his action is different. I’ve faced him a reasonable amount of times, and every time you face him, it takes a few balls to get into the rhythm somehow. He throws the ball closer to you than any other player, just like he does. So maybe it’s a little more rushed than you think and it’s just an awkward action.”

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Former Australian captain Smith also described Jasprit Bumrah as a “complete package”, saying that the Indian pacer possesses a full range of bowling skills, making him a constant threat to batsmen.

He is the complete package as a bowler: Steve Smith on Jasprit Bumrah

He signed off by saying, “Couple that with his skill set – he swings it both ways, he can cut it off the seam, he can reverse it and he’s got a good slower ball and a good bounce – he’s pretty much the best.” Complete package as a bowler.”

Notably, Bumrah’s stellar performance in the first Test against Australia has seen him regain the top spot in the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings. His impressive figures of 5/30 and 3/42 helped him surpass Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood and South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, achieving a career-best score of 883 points, the highest ever scored by an Indian fast bowler. .