The joy of Jasprit: Bumrah's opening World Cup burst casts a spell on South Africa

SAM MORSHEAD AT THE HAMPSHIRE BOWL: Quinton de Kock is one of the world's best batsmen but, on this particular Southampton morning, he might as well be a second XI opener from nearby Eastleigh

Jasprit Bumrah hangs in mid-air in his delivery stride, like a power forward in slow motion, reaching for the hoop.

Behind him, you can imagine bulbs popping and camera shutters rolling at half-speed. Click, click, flash.

But this is no sportswear montage, and suddenly we are back in real time, Bumrah’s feet hitting the turf with a thud and a massive explosion of downward energy propelling the ball towards the batsman.

Quinton de Kock is one of the world’s best but, on this particular Southampton morning, he might as well be a second XI opener from nearby Eastleigh. Bumrah generates tremendous movement in the air and a smidge off the seam, and De Kock - with all his 8,000 international runs - misses. Not by millimetres but by inches. For the South African, it must feel like miles.

Bumrah shuffles back to his mark. This is the time for De Kock to run through what just happened in his mind, but you would need a supercomputer to process that much information at that sort of speed.

^{Jasprit Bumrah was in terrific form in Southampton}

And anyway, by the time De Kock has finished prodding the pitch, Bumrah is bouncing back to the wicket once more, his long legs covering great swathes of turf with every stride.

That high arm, that fast follow-through, straight limbs spinning about his body like the hands on an out-of-control clockface.

He is in complete command.

Again De Kock plays the wrong line, not that that in itself is a massive sin; Bumrah is starting his deliveries to the left-hander well wide of leg stump yet the ball settles in MS Dhoni’s gloves two-and-a-half feet outside off. This is dark magic.

It’s not just De Kock who has no answer to the next one, Dhoni is beaten by the late swing too. Seventeen thousand fans think he has spilled an edge, oblivious to umpire Richard Kettleborough’s raised arm. A bye. De Kock reaches the other end of the wicket. Breathe, Quinton, breathe.

Bumrah has a right-hander in his sights now, and a tighter line cramps Hashim Amla for room, the ball shooting off the shoulder of the bat to second slip.

WORLD CUP PORTAL: Your one-stop shop for the summer spectacular

Pity the fool who has to walk into this cauldron. It’s Faf du Plessis. Bumrah pauses at the end of his run, his hands cupping the ball, back arched, slowly edging towards centre stage like a conjuror protecting his trick.

“What’s next, boys and girls?”

It’s the swooping inswinger, fuller this time and tempting enough to draw Du Plessis forward. Faf! You should know better.

The captain checks his shot midway through, as if being reminded by his subconscious that actually, no, it’s not the best idea to drive at the world’s premier white-ball bowler first up on a surface that is offering nibble and sway.

A collective groan from the stands. Bumrah catches the inside edge but the ball avoids a collision with the stumps by the sort of distance that might have caused its life to flash before its eyes.

^{Bumrah claimed two early wickets for India}

Bumrah’s hands fall from his head onto his hips. He exhales, puffs his chest and prepares for another try.

There’s added purpose with every falling footstep now, and he tips 140kph with another inducker that squirts into the offside off a combination of bat and pad.

Every time Bumrah approaches the crease, there is a ripple of expectation - and not only from the crowd. His three-man slip cordon - quite frankly it could be six and there would still be little risk of leaking runs - is equally excitable.

And just as well. Here comes their chance. Du Plessis leans at one outside off stump, and Sharma readies those pillow palms. But no. Just short.

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Bumrah smiles. Maybe he already knows what is soon to come.

De Kock has been pent up for a while now, 10 off 16 and stripped of all impetus. Bumrah teases him with a wider delivery, not quite a half-volley but in that split-second enough to play the part.

Go on, Quinton. Go on. This one’s for you. The late-night pizza when you’ve already had dinner.

Go on, you know you want to. It won’t do you any good, but it will taste great.

Oh Quinton. Carbs and cheese before bed is never the right choice. 

A swipe, a thick edge, Kohli holds on well above his head.

Bumrah has two, India are away and the tone for this game, perhaps for this World Cup, has been set.

Our coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is brought to you in association with Cricket 19, the official video game of the Ashes. Order your copy now at Amazon.co.uk