Former India head coach Ravi Shastri picked Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jasprit Bumrah as the game-changers for the Men in Blue in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Team India have already reached in Australia and started sweating out at WACA for the upcoming five-test match assignment scheduled to start from November 22.
Speaking with Sanjana Ganesan on ICC Review, the former India captain Shastri picked Jaiswal and Bumrah whom he opined could be game-changers for the Rohit Sharma-led side.
When asked about the India player who’d turn out to be the X-factor for the side, Shastri backed young left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal at the top because if he gets in, he can be devastating,” Shastri went on to laud the youngster’s spin-playing ability and scoring rate.
“You know he plays spin very well, he plays at his own tempo, he's got all the shots in the book.”
Shastri highlighted Jaiswal’s consecutive double centuries (209 and an unbeaten 214 against England in Vizag and Rajkot) as evidence of the young batter's determination and ability to perform in high-pressure matches.
“He's an entertainer so if he gets in as we've seen in his career already you know he has the ability to get the big scores. You don't hit two consecutive double hundreds you know just like that, you've got to have the hunger you have to have the quality and the ability," Shastri noted.
Turning to the bowling attack, Shastri was quick to name India’s vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah as the key figure to lead the bowling unit in the series.
With 32 Test wickets against Australia at an impressive average of 21.25, Bumrah has proven his mettle, and Shastri is confident that the pace ace will continue to excel on Australian soil.
“I think Jasprit, no question,” Shastri said. “Because he's the best fast bowler in the world. There's no question about that. And likewise for Australia, will be (Pat) Cummins (who will dominate).”
Bumrah is in lethal form the batter ended the T20 World Cup 2024 as Player of the Tournament. Shastri reckoned that the pacer, being at the height of his powers, would be the man for India.
“These are the top two bowlers who are on either side. And you'd expect him at this stage of his career, where at times he makes the ball talk, to be the highest wicket-taker," Shastri said of Bumrah.
The upcoming Test series is important for Team India to seal their spot in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) Final. India needs to register a 4-0 win in the upcoming series to confirm their berth for the WTC final which will take place in England later next year.
