Jasprit Bumrah has equaled the record for the most number of away Tests before playing a Test match at home as he made it to the playing XI for the first Test of a 4-match series against England in Chennai. Bumrah played 17 Tests on the road after making his Test debut in South Africa in 2018 before playing his first match in the longest format in home conditions.

Only West Indies batsman Daren Ganga had played as many as 17 Tests before playing his first Test at home. Bumrah also holds the Indian record for the most overseas Tests before a home Test. Javagal Srinath played 12 overseas Tests, RP Singh 11, and Sachin Tendulkar 10 before their first home Tests.

India vs England, 1st Test Day 1

Bumrah also has picked 79 wickets, the most by a bowler before his first home Tests. He has broken West Indies spinner Alf Valentine’s record as the slow left-arm spinner had picked up 65 wickets before making his home debut.

Bumrah missed the 4th and final Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane with a niggle but he was slotted right back in the playing XI for the series opener against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. India has gone in with a 2-man pace attack as Ishant Sharma also returns to the playing XI after missing the whole of the 4-Test series in Australia.