Jasprit Bumrah gears up for African delicacy in red-ball return

Star Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is poised for a return to international cricket after a break following the recently concluded ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

Bumrah showcased outstanding performance in the marquee event, emerging as India’s second most successful bowler after Mohammad Shami. His proficiency in swinging the ball early and unsettling opposition batters during the first powerplay played a pivotal role in India’s success in the tournament.

After opting to rest during the five-match T20I series against Australia, which India won 4-1, he is now gearing up for his comeback against South Africa in a two-match Test series.

The star Indian pacer made a great return in the white-ball format after his back surgery. Bumrah excelled in the Ireland T20I series as captain and delivered sensational spells during the World Cup 2023. In the tournament final against Australia, he exhibited breathtaking skill, narrowly missing the wicket of Travis Head, who went on to be named the player of the match.

This marks Bumrah’s return to Test cricket since July 2022 when he captained the side against England, falling short of victory. The pacer recently offered a glimpse into his rigorous training sessions, featuring fiery deliveries with the red ball.

As India aim for a breakthrough Test series win in South Africa, the team pins its hopes on Bumrah to strengthen the bowling attack. The Proteas territory has proven challenging for the Indian side, which suffered a 2-1 defeat in the previous series. With Bumrah gearing up for the challenge, cricket fans eagerly anticipate the brilliant performances from him on African soil.

South Africa is tough to beat in South Africa: Jacques Kallis

In a recent discussion about the upcoming series, former South African cricketing legend and all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, expressed his views and said that the India vs South Africa series is poised to be a closely contested battle, with the outcome potentially hinging on just one or two crucial sessions.

“This is a good Indian team but South Africa is tough to beat in South Africa. Centurion will probably suit South Africa and Newlands will probably suit India. It will be a good series and it will come down to one or two sessions that one team might play better than the other. It would be a closely fought contest,” Kallis was quoted as saying by IndiaTv.