“Don’t come at me again” - Former Australia captain lauds Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in BGT 2024-25

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has hailed Jasprit Bumrah's ability to rattle the top-order batters with the new ball. The Indian pacer has been a menace to the Australian batters in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, even forcing them to change their combination midway through the series.

Bumrah has accounted for the dismissals of opening batters - Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja - a total of eight times in three Tests. Australia have roped in Sam Konstas for the remaining two matches, hoping that his positive style of batting can unsettle the ace pacer.

Finch was dismissed twice by Bumrah during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series, which marked the final red-ball assignment of the former's career. After scoring just three runs in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test, he was dropped as Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja opened the innings in the series finale in Sydney.

Much like Finch, several other opening batters like Joe Burns and Matthew Wade have lost their spots after falling victim to Jasprit Bumrah's prowess. Nathan McSweeney is the most recent example, losing his spot after just three Tests.

"He's a world class bowler. He's as good as we've seen in this country for a long, long time. Few of those guys are in a rocking chair, I reckon, going back and forth, just saying, 'Don't come at me again, Jasprit,'" Finch said on ESPN's Around the Wicket Show.

Bumrah has picked up 21 wickets in three Tests so far at an average of 10.90 and an economy of 2.60. His exploits also include two five-wicket hauls.

"This summer, he's proving that he's definitely the best Test bowler" - Michael Clarke on Jasprit Bumrah

Michael Clarke has rated Jasprit Bumrah as the best Test bowler at the moment, following his exploits in the Border-Gavaskar series. The former skipper believes the pacer will have a crucial role to play with the new ball in the fourth Test to strike early and expose the in-form Travis Head as early as possible.

In the same discussion, Clarke said:

"He's the best bowler across all three formats. This summer, he's proving that he's definitely the best Test bowler. I think we've seen it in the shorter formats, but this summer we're seeing it. Conditions have been good for that brand new ball, it you are on the bowler side of things, but his record is phenomenal. You can't hide behind it."

With the series delicately placed and given how India are dependent on Jasprit Bumrah, resting him is out of the question. His workload is expected to be managed within the timeframe of the Tests. He is expected to take the field for the upcoming Boxing Day clash in Melbourne from December 26 onwards.