If Jasprit Bumrah’s toe-crushing yorkers, booming in-swingers, deceiving slower ones and head-high bouncers weren’t enough to inflict fear into the opposition, the Indian speedster added a new weapon to his armoury, that of hitting the fastest opposition bowler for a six.
In the last ball of India’s innings, Bumrah, who was facing his first, hit Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins for a straight six over long on in the fourth ODI at Mohali to push India’s total to 358 for 9.
This was only the second instance when an Indian No. 11 had finished off the innings with a six. The first was also against Australia when Venkatesh Prasad hit a six in the Champions Trophy in 2000.
Bumrah’s clean hit had everyone including Indian captain Virat Kohli in splits. Kohli was overjoyed seeing Bumrah hit Cummins straight back over his head for a six to take 14 runs off the last over.
This was Bumrah’s first six in an international match. He previously had three List A sixes to his name to along with in T20s. Overall Bumrah, currently has 7 sixes in his career.
Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan ended his prolonged bad patch with a career-best 143 off 115 balls and in Rohit Sharma's company guided India to a commanding 358/9 in the fourth ODI against Australia here Sunday.
India looked a completely different side with opening duo putting on 193 runs on arguably the flattest track on offer during the ongoing series.
While Dhawan got his 16th hundred in ODIs, vice-captain Rohit (95 off 92 balls) missed out on what could have been a very well-deserved 23rd hundred with Australian bowlers looking like lambs for slaughter.