Ravi Shastri reveals first message to Test-loving Jasprit Bumrah: 'I will unleash you in South Africa'

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Ravi Shastri has revealed that Jasprit Bumrah was keen to shrug off his white-ball tag, and was raring to make an impact in Test cricket when he first texted him ahead of India's tour of South Africa in 2018.

In an interview with former England skipper Michael Atherton, who writes for 'The Times', Shastri said that Bumrah was aware that his performances in Test cricket will put him on course to greatness.

The 30-year-old recently became the number one ranked Test bowler after a remarkable match haul of 9/91, playing a pivotal role in India's series-levelling victory in the second Test match in Vizag.

''I remember my first call to him, it was in Kolkata. I asked him would he be interested in Test cricket. He said that would be the biggest day of his life,'' Shastri recalled. ''He was labelled as a white-ball cricketer without asking him. But I knew. I wanted to see how hungry he was. I told him to get ready, be prepared. I told him I was going to unleash him in South Africa.'

''He's so excited to be playing and doing well in Test cricket,'' said Shastri who debunked the notion of Bumrah being solely a white-ball specialist for his exploits with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. ''He was desperate to play Test cricket with Virat Kohli. They know, at the end of the day, no one remembers white ball averages. They will always remember your numbers in Test cricket," Ravi Shastri said.

MS Dhoni was my captain but eyes were on Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri

Shastri, who assumed the role of national team director in 2014 and later became the head coach, further reflected on his tenure, emphasising the shift in focus from individual brilliance to team brilliance.

Identifying Virat Kohli as an ''uncut diamond,'' Shastri said he saw the potential for the Indian captaincy early on.

''There was a lot of individual brilliance but I wanted to see team brilliance. I wanted to win and to make Test cricket paramount and identified an uncut diamond in Virat Kohli.

''While (MS) Dhoni was my captain, my eye was on him (Kohli). I told him very early in my second month: 'It'll take time but watch, observe, be ready (for the captaincy)'.

Shastri lauded Kohli's passion for Test cricket, his readiness for challenges, and the willingness to play tough cricket.

''Kohli was fully engaged with Test cricket. He was passionate. He was prepared to do the hard yards and was prepared to play tough cricket, which fitted my way of thinking. When you play Australia or Pakistan you've got to have a 'no complaints', 'no excuses' attitude.''

''We were on the same page and wanted a battery of fast bowlers. He was ready for a scrap. He wanted to play hard. We made it a free-for-all in the nets. You were allowed to bounce the shit out of anyone. He was the first guy to embrace it; he was quite prepared to look ugly in the nets and the mindset changed." Addressing concerns about India's 40 per cent share of ICC revenues, Shastri suggested a nuanced approach.

(With PTI Inputs)