India’s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah on Friday played his first Test in India after a long gap of three years. The 27-year old bowler had played all his matches away from home before getting selected in the Indian squad for the ongoing four-match Test series.
Having played 17 Test matches, all away from home he made his Test debut in South Africa in 2018.
Bumrah equalled West Indies batsmen Daren Ganga, who also played 17 matches overseas before playing in the Caribbean Islands. Bumrah also holds the record of most away Tests before playing in India.
Besides Bumrah, former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath, RP Singh and Sachin Tendulkar have played 12, 11 and 10 Tests overseas before playing on home soil.
The Mumbai Indians bowler has taken 79 wickets in the 17 Test matches he has played, going past former West Indies cricketer Alf Valentine’s record of 65 wickets before making debut in his country.
The 27-year-old pacer missed the fourth and final Test against Australia in Gabba with an injury but he recovered for the Test series against England. Apart from Bumrah, India has picked Ishant Sharma to complete the fast bowling line-up against England in the Test series.
