“I informed him that I would release him in South Africa,” says Ravi Shastri of his chat with Bumrah prior to the latter’s arrival for the Test.

Recently, Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, provided insight into Jasprit Bumrah’s transformation from a white-ball specialist to a powerful Test bowler. Bumrah, who is currently atop the ICC Test bowling rankings, first gained notice in limited-overs cricket for his deadly yorkers and variations. He excelled in T20Is, ODIs, and the IPL with the Mumbai Indians during his formative years. He did, however, constantly express his wish to grasp the red cherry and blossom.

Ravi Shastri and former captain Virat Kohli, however, saw Bumrah’s potential in Test cricket and saw him as a vital component of international victories. With the help of this vision, Bumrah entered the red-ball arena and quickly established himself as one of India’s best fast bowlers. His path represented a paradigm shift in Indian cricketing dynamics by exemplifying resilience and adaptation.

“I recall making my very first call to him from Kolkata. I inquired if he would be keen on playing Test cricket. That would be the greatest day of his life, he declared. Without question, he was called a white-ball cricket player. However, I was aware. I was interested in his level of hunger. I advised him to prepare himself. I informed him that I would let him loose in South Africa. He was itching to take on Virat Kohli in a Test match. They are aware that nobody really remembers white-ball averages at the end of the day.

The Hindustan Times cited Ravi Shastri as saying, “They’ll never forget your Test cricket numbers.”

The outstanding performances of Jasprit Bumrah in red-ball cricket

Jasprit Bumrah made his debut in the first Test match of the 2018 South Africa tour in Cape Town, leaving an enduring impression with four wickets. His outstanding five-wicket performance against the Wanderers highlighted India’s historic triumph. Since then, he has been a key member of India’s seam-bowling team, playing a major role in multiple international victories, including those in Melbourne, Nottingham, and Cape Town. His resolute performances underscore his importance to the Men in Blue’s triumph overseas, thereby consolidating his position as India’s top fast bowler.