Former India player Abhishek Nayar has highlighted that Jasprit Bumrah is a key topic of discussion in the South African dressing room ahead of the first Test against India. However, he believes that no matter what strategies the Proteas batters devise, facing the ace seamer will be a formidable challenge.
India is set to face South Africa in a two-match Test series, with the opening game starting in Kolkata on Friday, November 14. Bumrah is expected to spearhead the Indian pace attack, supported by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep as the other specialist seamers in the squad.
During an interaction on the Star Sports show *Game Plan*, Nayar shared his thoughts on Bumrah ahead of the Kolkata Test. He said, “Those conditions, black soil, he is going to be lethal. Someone, the opposition is going to be discussing a lot about, and no matter how much you discuss, when you stand and you have to face him, it’s a completely different ball game. When Bumrah is in your attack, it kind of takes away from everyone else, and your focus is solely on Jasprit Bumrah picking wickets.”
The former India assistant coach also noted that Bumrah would be relatively fresh and eager to play in the potentially seam-friendly conditions at Eden Gardens. “Workload management again, he has been playing a lot of cricket, which is amazing to see. Luckily, in this T20 format (series against Australia), there were two games that were washed out. He will be relatively fresh and relatively excited because he is going to get conditions that he is going to really, really enjoy,” Nayar added.
Jasprit Bumrah has an impressive record with 226 wickets at an average of 19.83 in 50 Test matches. Specifically against South Africa, he has claimed 38 dismissals at an average of 20.76 in eight Tests.
### Abhishek Nayar on Mohammed Siraj ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test
In the same interaction, Nayar was asked about his views on Mohammed Siraj ahead of the first Test. He responded, “England, for me, was that turning point in his career and his belief systems that he can lead this attack, with or without Jasprit, that he can walk shoulder to shoulder and carry this attack. In that last game at the Oval, he proved as to why, in the future, this Indian team can look at Mohammed Siraj and say, ‘Siraj, here is the ball, get me the wicket.’”
Nayar further stated that players like Shubman Gill and the team management can now place their trust in Siraj just as much as they do in Bumrah. “The same confidence with which they went to Bumrah, they can now go to Siraj and say, ‘This is that breaking moment. I need you to come and deliver.’ He has done it time and time again. Good things are happening and he is slowly becoming an all-phase bowler,” he observed.
Mohammed Siraj has picked up 133 wickets at an average of 29.69 in 43 Tests. Against South Africa, he has claimed 12 wickets at an average of 24.16 in four Tests.
—
*Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda for the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news.*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-someone-opposition-going-discussing-lot-about-abhishek-nayar-indian-star-ahead-ind-vs-sa-2025-1st-test
