It is an honour that we have got Jasprit Bumrah playing for us, says Gambhir ahead of first India vs Bangladesh Test

Currently ranked joint-second in the world in the ICC rankings, Bumrah was a vital cog in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph and the home Test series win against England earlier this year.

India pacer Bumrah in practice ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu/The Hindu

Ahead of his first Test assignment as India head coach, Gautam Gambhir cut to the chase in typical fashion, mincing no words in extolling pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who had finally dispelled the nation of its obsession with batters, as the best fast bowler going around in all three formats.

“It has not happened many times in India that we have started talking about bowlers now. It has always been about batters. India at one stage was a batter-obsessed nation. You have to give credit to Bumrah, [Mohammed] Shami, [Mohammed] Siraj, [Ravichandran] Ashwin, [Ravindra] Jadeja. Yes, Jasprit Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world in all three formats. The best part is he wants to play as much Test cricket as he can,” the former No. 1 Test batter in the world said, ahead of India’s first Test against Bangladesh beginning Thursday at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here.

“It is an honour that we have got someone like Jasprit Bumrah playing for us and sitting in that dressing room, who can make a change and a difference at any stage in the game. Hopefully, he will do the same in this series and going forward as well,” he added.

Currently ranked joint-second in the world in the ICC rankings, Bumrah was a vital cog in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph and the home Test series win against England earlier this year. He picked 19 wickets in four games at an astounding average of 16.89 - the best amongst all those who rolled their arm over in that series.

With Bumrah adding teeth to India’s pace bowling unit, the host hasn’t flinched from stepping away from its template of preparing pitches that offer prodigious turn, as seen during the England series. The upcoming Test here is also set to be played on a red-soil wicket that has appreciable bounce and carry for the quicks.

However, the tweakers will never be out of the equation in Indian conditions, and with the sun beating down here over the past week, they will come into play at some point in the match and be pivotal in picking 20 opposition wickets.

 “India has been very fortunate that we’ve got people like Ashwin and Jadeja. And they’ve bowled really well in tandem as well, and we know how they can contribute on day one. Because, for Test cricket, the most important thing is that you should have the ability to bowl defensive, and you should have the ability to bowl attacking stuff as well. And both those guys can do that from day one to day five. So, I feel that we’re going to have an attack which can take 20 wickets, and those two guys are definitely going to create a lot of impact in Indian conditions,” Gambhir said.

While Ashwin and Jadeja are sure-starters, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have thrown their hat in the ring in case India decides to field three spinners in the XI. Meanwhile, the temptation for play three pacers at home, a strategy India last opted for in the pink-ball Test at Eden Gardens against Bangladesh in 2019, has also prompted discussions surrounding the need to develop a seam-bowling all-rounder for the longest format. 

But Gambhir made it amply clear that wasn’t high on his priority list as coach and was pleased with the bevy of spin-bowling all-rounders at his disposal.

Indian team Head Coach Gautam Gambhir speaks to media ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. | Photo Credit: S SATHIYASEELAN/ Hindu Tamil

 “We have been talking since Kapil Dev’s time that we don’t have a fast-bowling all-rounder. If we don’t have it, we don’t have it. If we have it, he has got to develop in First-Class cricket. We have got a really strong First-Class structure, and hopefully we can get someone really soon. If we can get someone very soon, great for Indian cricket. If we don’t, we still have quality all-rounders. We have people like Jadeja, Axar, Ashwin, who has got five Test hundreds. Washy (Washington Sundar) is there as well. When we keep talking about seam-bowling all-rounders, let’s not get obsessed with that as well. How many international sides have spin-bowling all-rounders? There are not many. India has got that luxury,” the 42-year-old explained.

 He may be too much of a straight talker for someone’s liking or may ruffle some feathers from time to time, but Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner (2007, 2011), and three-time Indian Premier League champion (2012 & 2014 as coach and 2024 as mentor), knows a thing or two about winning titles.

 As India resumes its quest to clinch the elusive World Test Championship title with a five-match home season followed by the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under, Gambhir’s ‘the best style is the style that wins’ mantra will hold Rohit Sharma and his men in good stead.