Jasprit Bumrah is India’s finest cricketer in all three formats at the moment, although cricket pundits once predicted him to be a white-ball bowler.
Now, the 27-year-old paceman has taken 100 Test wickets in just 24 matches and is the spearhead of India’s attack in all three forms.
In an interview with The Guardian, India coach Ravi Shastri explained how he persuaded captain Virat Kohli and the committee not to use Jasprit Bumrah on Indian surfaces in Test cricket.
“No one thought Jasprit Bumrah would be able to play Test cricket. He bowled with white balls. But when I became coach, I thought to myself, ‘How do I take 20 wickets overseas?'” Shastri told The Guardian.
“Having played so much Test cricket against the West Indies, I knew I needed four terrific fast bowlers. It began in South Africa in 2018, when we were defeated 2-1 in a thrilling series.”
“In that first Test in Cape Town, I wanted to unleash Bumrah. ‘Do not unleash him in India,’ I urged the selectors after I bounced the idea off Virat. Before Cape Town, I don’t want the world to see him play Test cricket.’ It has been three years since then. He’s grabbed 101 wickets since then.” “It’s incredible,” Ravi added.
Bumrah had a shaky opening to his Test career, going for a lot of runs in the first innings against South Africa, but he did manage to get Ab de Villiers as his maiden Test wicket. The Gujarat pacer came out firing in the second innings, dismantling South Africa’s middle-order by dismissing Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, and AB de Villiers.
India lost by 72 runs while pursuing a small total of 208 runs, but Jasprit Bumrah proved to be a lethal weapon. Reports India Today.
