17 October,2026 09:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav. Pics/AFP
Rachin Ravindra expects Jasprit Bumrah to pose a major challenge for New Zealand in the upcoming two-Test series, beginning in Wellington on November 19.
"Bumrah is a challenge anywhere in the world. Most of us find him very difficult to face. He's going to enjoy bowling in New Zealand. The seam he'll be able to get, the bounce and the swing both ways - he'll be able to extract a lot from the surface. It's pretty hard to completely negate his bowling because he is a world-class bowler. He's one of the best of the generation, so hopefully, we can minimise his impact through good decision-making," Ravindra said during a select media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network on Thursday.
The 26-year-old, who has scored 1,865 runs and claimed 11 wickets with his left-arm spin in 24 Tests, also acknowledged the threat posed by wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
"Kuldeep will be challenging, as he always is, because he's got a lot of variations. He can skid the ball on, generate bounce with his overspin, and he's got his front-of-the-hand delivery and the wrong'un. He's got a number of tricks up his sleeve and he's a quality bowler, so I think he'll pose a big threat," Ravindra said.
The Indian-origin cricketer also spoke about his pride in his heritage and his connection with India, revealing how batting greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have influenced his game.
"Watching the way Virat plays in bouncy conditions and Rohit plays spin has influenced me in a number of ways. But it's also a lot about their influence, grit and determination. Kohli scored hundreds in challenging situations, while you see Rohit's free-flowing style and fearlessness at the top. These are things I try to take from both of them," Ravindra said.
"Just watching them and picking their brains a little over the years has been fantastic. They're two guys I've idolised for a long time and modelled my batting a little bit on," he added.
[popcorn number="Five" desc="No. of wickets claimed by Jasprit Bumrah in India's last Test in NZ, at Christchurch in 2020" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="Zero" desc="No. of Test matches Kuldeep has played in New Zealand so far" class="Default"]
