South Africa captain Faf du Plessis recalled the 3 Tests against India which was played in the rainbow nation in 2018, saying that that the hosts were hoping that Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t make his debut in that 3-match series.
Jasprit Bumrah made his Test debut in that series, which South Africa won 2-1 but the scoreline doesn’t reflect how closely both teams fought in the series.
Bumrah bagged 14 wickets in the three matches at an average of 25.21 which also included a five-wicket haul in the Johannesburg Test which India won. The 26-year-old right-arm pacer hasn’t looked back since then and went on to grab the No. 3 spot in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers.
Since his Test debut in South Africa, Bumrah has gone on to break a number of records and is the first Asian bowler to take a 5-wicket haul in each of his first tours to South Africa, Australia and England in the same calendar year.
“Bumrah made his debut in that Test series. We were actually hoping that he doesn’t make his debut. Because I knew how good he was. He has got that beautiful wrist that is quick on you, almost like Archer. They are similar type bowlers. Their fast bowlers were really good,” du Plessis said on the Sony Ten Pitstop Show.
Du Plessis went on to add that the series against India was one of the best he has ever been a part of in red-ball cricket.
“We beat the Indian Test team 2-1 but it was a great Test series. That was one of the best series I have been involved in. Because India for the first time had a pace attack that could take on South Africa in South Africa and Australia, that is why they were so successful.
“That series was fought on an even keel all the time. That was one of the best series to be involved in, obviously we won it 2-1. India was a proper powerful team then as well.”
The Test series was followed by a series of 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is, both of which India won. Virat Kohli’s boys thrashed the Proteas 5-1 in the ODIs before whitewashing them in the T20Is.
“In the one-dayers we had 3 or 4 big injuries. I broke my finger, Quinton got injured and I think Hashim got injured.
“So, basically our batting line-up was gone. And then India bulldozed all over us, they beat us 5-0. It was men taking on the boys. They were just too good in that series,” Du Plessis said.
