1st time in 17 years: Jasprit Bumrah matches rare Dale Steyn feat with fiery spell vs South Africa

Bumrah matches rare Steyn feat as his fiery spell stuns South Africa. (BCCI Photo)

Jasprit Bumrah became the first bowler in 17 years to take five wickets on the first day of a red-ball Test in India on Friday in Kolkata with a spell of rare venom. The legendary Dale Steyn of South Africa, who finished with five wickets at Nagpur in 2008, was the last to accomplish the feat.

After the tourists chose to bat first in the first Test, Bumrah's scorching 5/27 destroyed South Africa for a meager 159 in just over two sessions. Additionally, since Ishant Sharma's five-for in the 2019 day-night Test at the same location—albeit with the pink ball—his effort was the first five-for by a fast bowler on the first day of a Test in India.

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Bumrah hit at key moments on a surface that provided early movement and just the right amount of bounce.  When he bowled Ryan Rickelton for 23 to break the opening partnership, the crowded Eden Gardens erupted in cheers. His dismissal of Aiden Markram was a masterwork: returning wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant dived to his right and beautifully caught a rising delivery that grazed the glove.

Bumrah's sharp bursts were supported by left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who dismissed South African captain Temba Bavuma for three and trapped Wiaan Mulder lbw for 24 shortly before the interval. After holding firm for a time, Tony de Zorzi was undone by an inswinger who smashed into the stumps after wasting a review, exactly as Mulder had done previously. This made him Bumrah's second victim.

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Bumrah completed his five-wicket haul by hitting twice in the third over following tea, dismissing Simon Harmer and last man Keshav Maharaj for a duck.

Bumrah's five-for also increased his total number of Test five-wicket hauls to 16 in just 51 games, ranking him alongside Bhagwat Chandrasekhar on India's all-time list. This is an incredible accomplishment for a fast bowler in a country that predominates in spin.

 A glimpse of Jasprit Bumrah's Eden Gardens masterclass! \|/

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— BCCI (@BCCI) November 14, 2025

Most five-wicket hauls for India:

37 R Ashwin (106 Tests)

35 Anil Kumble (132)

25 Harbhajan Singh (103)

23 Kapil Dev (131)

16 Jasprit Bumrah (51)/Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (58)

Bumrah's latest spell solidified his status as one of the most formidable red-ball pacers of his generation, one who can not only break long-standing records but also do so in conditions that have historically been more favorable to spinners than speedsters, with India in control after bowling South Africa out cheaply.