Former Indian coach Abhishek Nayar has expressed strong confidence in Jasprit Bumrah's ability to dominate on any surface, including the traditionally spin-friendly black soil pitch at Eden Gardens. With the first Test between India and South Africa set to begin on November 14 in Kolkata, Nayar believes Bumrah will be a lethal weapon for the home side. Although Eden Gardens typically favours spinners, recent indications suggest a more seam-friendly wicket prepared for Gautam Gambhir's team, with spin expected to play a role in later stages. Nayar praised Bumrah's unique match-winning capabilities and noted that recent rain-affected T20I matches against Australia have helped manage his workload. The additional rest is expected to keep Bumrah fresh and ready to lead India's pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep in the crucial Test match.
Bumrah's Impact and Workload Management Ahead of First Test
Nayar highlighted that the black soil conditions at Eden Gardens will make Bumrah extremely dangerous, stating that opposition teams will struggle despite extensive planning. He emphasized that when Bumrah is in the attack, he draws all attention and becomes the primary wicket-taking threat. Regarding workload concerns, Nayar mentioned that Bumrah has been fortunate with two washed-out T20I games against Australia, which provided him unplanned rest. This break should help Bumrah stay fresh and enthusiastic for the Test match, where he can exploit seam movement on a surface expected to assist fast bowlers initially before spinners take over later in the game.
Source: Link