Jasprit Bumrah looks back on battle with newcomer Sam Konstas and challenges of bowling against Australia

India's best pacer Jasprit Bumrah was speaking about one very interesting encounter that had come his way with the Australian debutant Sam Konstas in the Test series currently going on. Bumrah has been on a spree and has collected 24 wickets to date, sharing his experience of playing in Australia and what challenge it brings for the bowlers.

The Duel wth Sam Konstas

At Melbourne in the fourth Test, Bumrah was up against a young and unorthodox Sam Konstas. Even when he was on the receiving end of two audacious sixes, he felt he was on top in the early stages of their contest.

"Konstas is such an interesting batsman, and I always felt I was still in the game against him," Bumrah revealed in a Channel 7 interview. "Earlier I felt that I should have got him out maybe six or seven times in the first two overs. That is what cricket is sometimes—today he pays and it seems absolutely great, and when not, tomorrow you find something to crib about even regarding the same bowler".

Bumrah's words therefore reflect the capricious nature of cricket whereby a bowler's constancy and planning might become more important than transient crises.

Playing in Australia-a Different Experience

Playing at Australian grounds has always meant something special for Bumrah. His journey on Australian pitches started with his ODI debut in 2016 followed by his first Test tour in 2018. He feels that those stints have made him progress as a cricketer.

"Australia brings out the best in you," Bumrah explained. "The pitches are often flat, and the Kookaburra ball does a little bit with the new ball before becoming ineffective. These conditions test your accuracy, fitness, and patience. Overcoming these challenges leaves you in a better space as a cricketer."

Bumrah said that the conditions in Australia have forced players to hone their skills and adapt under different circumstances. He reminded how the process has really helped him grow as a bowler, allowing him to shine under pressure.

Excellent Show at Melbourne

So far, in the ongoing fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Bumrah has only tightened his grip and played an ideal four-wicket haul by sending all the crucial Australian batsmen who include Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Lyon in the remaining phase of the contest. Which restores his crucial status for Indian cricket.

Apart from the numbers, Bumrah produced mental strength and strategic play. And in the way he read the batsmen, as told by the approach to Konstas, and the manner in which he harvested the conditions of Australia, this was a world-class bowler.

Wider Consequences of the Series

Bumrah also talked on his reflection of more larger challenges of international cricket. From tolerating extreme weathers to mastering the arts of different pitches, according to him, all have multifaceted tests to a player's front. "Your patience is continually tested in Australia along with your physical fitness," says Bumrah. "When you overcome those it gives you more confidence to feel that you've overcome it. It is pleasing."

With every series going forward, Bumrah is going to be the only one whose form is going to make India a little concerned regarding their dominance at the soil of Australia. He is just a performer inspiring his team-mates while entertaining everyone from the whole world. The relentless zeal and requisite skills to be great on cricket's biggest platform showcase the performance.

Jasprit Bumrah's musings about his meeting with Sam Konstas and those oddities of playing in Australia opened up an insight into what runs through a top-ranked cricketer's mind. His class has not gone out of sorts-be it the throw of an adaptation, strategic planning, or when the pressure mounts on delivery. The fans here will be keen to see how much more he delivers through the series.