Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace spearhead penned an emotional note on his official Instagram handle to share his feelings ahead of the India-South Africa Test series decider in Cape Town.
The Mumbai Indians pacer revealed that returning to Cape Town brought back many great memories and opened up that he had grown as a person and a cricketer since then.
Jasprit Bumrah Returns To Cape Town For 2021/22 Test Series Decider 4 Years After His Test Debut At The Same Venue
Jasprit Bumrah is glad to be back at Newlands as one of India’s premier fast bowlers, four years after making his Test debut at the same venue. Seeking their first series win in South Africa, India will lock horns with the hosts in the series-deciding third Test at Cape Town, Newlands from January 11-15 and he will be expected to play a pivotal role with the ball.
A nostalgic Jasprit Bumrah shared the following post on his official Instagram account and captioned it: “Cape Town, January 2018 – is where it all began for me in Test cricket. Four years on, I’ve grown as a player and a person and to return to this ground brings back special memories.”
Jasprit Bumrah made his Test debut at Newlands in Cape Town four years ago against South Africa. He made an instant impact in the first innings by uprooting the stumps of legendary batter AB de Villiers. He bowled a wonderful spell (3/39) in the second innings to showcase his talent in foreign conditions on the global stage. Despite a brilliant display from the Indian bowlers, the visitors eventually lost the match by 72 runs.
The Indian team lost that match but Jasprit Bumrah took a five-wicket haul in the Johannesburg Test to help the visitors to a fine win. He finished that series with 14 wickets in three matches. He has since grown into the team’s leading pacer, picking up more than 100 wickets in overseas conditions.
Jasprit Bumrah has taken 107 wickets in just 26 matches and played a role in India’s major wins in England and Australia. Interestingly, he has only played two Test matches at home so far.
Aakash Chopra: It Was A Rare Off Day For Indian Pace Duo Of Jasprit Bumrah And Mohammed Shami On 4th Day Of 2nd Test
Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra opined that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami had rare off days in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test. Aakash Chopra felt that their performances were nowhere near the lofty standards the duo have set in recent times.
Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel while reviewing the Indian bowling following their defeat in the second Test, Aakash Chopra said: “We saw a rare off day from the pace attack. It was slightly an off Test match for Bumrah, it was slightly an off Test match for Shami as well. The performance was not up to the standards we have seen.”
The series decider between India and South Africa will commence on January 11 in Cape Town. India began the Test series on a rousing note, winning the opener at Centurion by 113 runs before succumbing to a seven-wicket defeat in the second Test at Johannesburg.
Powered by an unbeaten 96 from captain and opener Dean Elgar, the hosts overhauled the target of 240 for the loss of just three wickets and also ended India’s unbeaten run at The Wanderers. Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of 17-2-70-0 while Mohammed Shami returned with figures of 17-3-55-1.