During a 90-minute New Year reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancée Jodie Haydon at Kirribilli House, Sydney, Albanese humorously praised Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
“We could pass a law here that says he has to bowl left-handed or off one step. Every time he comes on to bowl, it’s thrilling,” quipped Albanese.
The aura of Bumrah has indeed captivated Australia. The 31-year-old pacer leads the series with 30 wickets across four matches, cementing his dominance.
With one final game remaining, Bumrah is keen to challenge the Australian batting lineup once more, aiming to retain the trophy for India.
Among those who faced Bumrah’s fiery spells, debutant Sam Konstas stood out, making batting against him look remarkably easy in the last match at the MCG. Konstas, whose parents attended the function, earned special mention from Albanese.
The Prime Minister took partial credit for the young batter’s rise, joking, “Of course, he got his break in the Prime Minister’s XI. I’m claiming some of the credit, which is probably my only contribution to national cricket,” referring to Konstas’s century in the match against India.
Despite Bumrah’s heroics, India’s path to another ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final appears challenging. Even if they win or draw the fifth Test, they’ll need Sri Lanka to ensure Australia doesn’t secure a single victory in their series on the island.
As both teams gear up for the final showdown, the camaraderie and light-hearted moments at the reception highlighted the spirit of the game, even amidst intense competition.