IND v SA 2019: Playing Tests in India will be a "different experience", says Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah is gearing up for his first Test match at home versus South Africa.

Jasprit Bumrah | Getty

Jasprit Bumrah is looking forward to his maiden Test outing at home against South Africa in next month's Freedom series that begins with the first Test in Visakhapatnam on October 2. 

Bumrah, already India's premier fast bowler in whites, has played 12 Tests since making his debut in the format last year but all of them abroad. He has taken 62 wickets at an average of 19.2 and strike-rate of 43.7, including five-wicket hauls in Johannesburg, Trent Bridge, Melbourne, Antigua and Jamaica. 

"I have played all my cricket in India before playing for the country, so these are not alien conditions for me. But playing Test matches will be a different experience," said Bumrah on Friday (September 13), reiterating he isn't unaware of how to bowl in first-class cricket in India. 

"As soon as I join, we will discuss with the team management and the senior players, who have played a lot of cricket as to what works, what doesn't work, so will take everything into consideration and let's see how it goes."

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The selectors and the team management have made Bumrah's workload a massive priority. The right-arm pacer has been rested for a substantial amount of limited-overs cricket this year either side of the World Cup in UK. But he said that doesn't mean the training ever stops in those gaps. 

"A lot of thought process goes behind this decision. It’s not that I will just rest from white-ball cricket, a lot of preparation will go on because if you play all three formats, you need to be fresh as well."

"So, when you come back after a break, you are hungry, you want to do well again and all of that plays a massive role for you to be fit and fresh."

"There is a lot of work that goes on behind the camera, so each and every delivery you have to do extra practice, I try and do that. I tick all boxes before I leave the practice session."

Bumrah also talked about the relationship he shares with the rest of the team's fast bowling group, especially Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami. The trio was magnificent in Australia and West Indies. 

"It is very good. All of us are very close to each other, we hang out together. There is a lot of camaraderie as well," he said. "Obviously, Ishant (Sharma) and (Mohammad) Shami have played a lot more cricket than I have, so I try to ask them if they have come here before, in foreign conditions or home conditions, and then we find out how things are, then we try to motivate each other if anything is not working or maybe working or how we can improve," Bumrah signed off. 

(Inputs from Sportstar)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 14 Sep, 2019

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