"He's One Of The Best In The World": New Zealand Star Braces For Jasprit Bumrah Challenge

New Zealand batter Will Young believes the return of Jasprit Bumrah will make the upcoming two-Test series against India a stern challenge for the hosts, but he also backed New Zealand's own bowling attack to trouble the visitors. Bumrah is set to return for the marquee Test series, which begins on November 19, after missing India's tour of Sri Lanka in August due to a knee injury. The two-match contest will be the first Test series between the sides since New Zealand's memorable 3-0 sweep in India in 2024. "I think the Test series that we had in India a couple of years ago is long gone. We've got a brand-new challenge in front of us with two massive Tests against India at home. They're at Wellington and Christchurch, two of the marquee Test venues in New Zealand, I'd like to think. So it's going to be a completely different set of challenges.

"As you said, Bumrah coming into the side will pose a unique set of challenges as well. He's one of the best bowlers in the world. So we've got our work cut out for us, but I think we've got some brilliant bowlers too. The Indian batters will have to adapt to what we bring to the Test series as well. So, as I said before, it's all set up for a really interesting two-Test series," Young told reporters on the eve of the ODI series decider.

Both teams remain firmly in contention for next year's World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval. While New Zealand, champions in 2021, sit second in the WTC standings behind leaders and defending champions South Africa, two-time runners-up India are currently fourth.

Asked whether New Zealand's historic Test series win in India in 2024 would have any bearing on the upcoming contest, Young said the tour had given the team immense confidence.

"I think it did. I think that series was really good for the whole group and the confidence that the whole group gained from it. Before we went to India for that Test series, we had lost 2-0 in Sri Lanka, and we managed to double down on our plans, have strategies against each bowler, back ourselves to express ourselves and take the positive option.

"So it's nice in a way to have the challenge of facing world-class bowlers. But this time it's different because it's in New Zealand and the conditions are different. Yesterday, the wind was a massive factor, which isn't always the case in India. It's nice to be in the setup long enough now for batters to understand what a bowler brings and then adapt those skills according to the conditions on the day," he said.

Before the Tests, however, New Zealand must focus on the ODI series finale, and Young had plenty of praise for India's pace attack.

"I think it's a really well-balanced attack. You've obviously got the left-arm pace of Arshdeep, who can move the ball both ways.

"Auqib Nabi has shown that he can move the ball both ways as well. Unfortunately, I didn't get to face Anshul Kamboj, but he looks like a hell of a bowler too, and I'm sure we'll see more of him in the Test series. Then there's Gurnoor Brar, who has a lot of passion.

"He's got a really effective short ball, as we've seen throughout the series. To be honest, most New Zealand sides have a Brar-type bowler who can hit the deck and get a bit of energy out of the surface. I look at the seam attack India have brought for this ODI series and think it's a really well-balanced unit," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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