New Delhi: Jasprit Bumrah walked into the first Test against South Africa carrying the burden of leading India’s bowling attack but by the end of Day 1 at Eden Gardens as he had turned the contest on its head. Across a sharp, relentless 14-over spell, Bumrah sliced through the Proteas lineup to finish with five for 27.

The haul wasn’t just another entry in his growing list of match-defining spells. It placed him in a rare bracket, making him the first fast bowler in 17 years to pick up at least five wickets on Day 1 of a Test match in India. The last pacer to achieve that was Dale Steyn back in 2008 when he scythed through India in Ahmedabad with figures of 5 for 23. Since then, Day 1 fivers for quicks on Indian soil have been almost unheard of with spinners usually dictating the narrati

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