NEW DELHI: When the chips are down for India, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah always steps up, and the top-ranked Test bowler once again lived up to his reputation with back-to-back wickets on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.

Bumrah's knack of taking wickets at crucial junctures came to the fore again for India when South African openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton gave visitors flying start after opting to bat first. They became the first South African opening pair to register a 50-plus partnership in India since Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie put on 61 in Kanpur in 2008.

Bumrah produced a gem of a delivery to clean up Rickelton - a well-pitched length ball on off stump that moved away late. The subtle movement was enough to lure Rickelton into playing down the wrong line, leaving his off stump rattled.

The right-arm pacer Bumrah struck again, dismissing Markram, who was caught off guard by the extra bounce from a short-of-length delivery. There was little he could do against the rising ball, which landed on off stump and reared up sharply, catching the edge of his glove. Rishabh Pant dived to his right and held on to complete a straightforward catch.

'Bumrah is the Amitabh Bachchan of the team'

India's wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has aptly called Bumrah the "Amitabh Bachchan" of the team in an exclusive interview with Sports Yaari, saying that whenever the team needs a breakthrough, everyone looks up to Bumrah for wickets.

"Bumrah is the Amitabh Bachchan of the team. Sab unko respect se dekhte hain (Everyone looks at him with respect). Jab hi aapko wicket chahite, let's bring Amitabh Bachchan," Jitesh said.

Earlier, South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat against India in the opening Test of the two-match series.

A fit-again Rishabh Pant, who had suffered an injury in England in July, replaced all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Axar Patel was back in side in place of Sai Sudharsan in the playing XI as India opted to go with four spinners.

For SA, premier pacer Kagiso Rabada missed out due to a rib injury with Corbin Bosch replacing him.