"What you speak can't be taken back" - Former India batter's huge statement on Jasprit Bumrah's controversy in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif made a huge statement on Jasprit Bumrah's controversy during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. The hosts suffered a 30-run defeat as the match ended in two and a half days.

On the first day, pacer Jasprit Bumrah was involved in a controversy for his remarks on South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma. During an LBW appeal in the 14th over of South Africa's first innings, Bumrah's chat with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was caught on the stump mic. Bumrah was heard saying "bauna bhi hai".

The phrase was used regarding Bavuma's height and means 'dwarf' or 'short' in Hindi. After the game ended on the third, Jasprit Bumrah was seen having a conversation with Bavuma, and from the looks of it, the matter seemed to have been resolved.

However, Mohammad Kaif reckoned that Bumrah should have been careful and aware as a senior player. He reckoned that with the stump mic catching chats, things spoken could not be taken back, even though Bumrah may not have meant to directly target Bavuma.

"What Bumrah said was friendly, he spoke with Rishabh Pant. He wasn’t targeting the player directly. But I will cut marks here. When you are nearing the stumps mic, you know you are playing for a long time, and conversations get leaked. There is a lot of discussion around it, so why are you giving them an opportunity? Why put fuel to the fire?… This stump mic is like a double-edged sword, so you have to be very careful because the whole world is listening… You can’t say I didn’t mean it. What you speak can’t be taken back," he said on his YouTube channel.

While a slight controversy did erupt following the comments, both sides seem to have moved on, as the matter did not turn into a huge issue as such.

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Jasprit Bumrah bagged a record five-wicket haul on Day 1

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah impressed on the opening day of the first Test. As South Africa were bowled out for 159, he picked up a record five-wicket haul, returning figures of 5/27 in 14 overs.

This was Bumrah's 16th five-wicket haul in the format. He became the bowler with the joint-fifth most fifers for India in Tests, equalling Bhagwat Chandrasekhar. Bumrah also overtook Wasim Akram to become the Asian bowler with the most five-wicket hauls against SENA countries in Tests with 13 fifers.

Jasprit Bumrah also became India's fifth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers with the fifer. With a wicket in the second innings as well, he now has 232 scalps from 51 matches.