Delhi: Jasprit Bumrah’s hard work in limited overs’ cricket for India paid off as the speedster has earned a maiden Test call-up for India’s tour of South Africa after the squad was announced on Monday.
With an unorthodox bowling action, Bumrah has already achieved a lot of success for India in coloured clothing and he would be keen to showcase his talent for the nation in their challenging tour of South Africa. Also, wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel has made a comeback to the squad after 2016, when he last played against England in the Test series at home.
“Definitely, the players select themselves on form. Definitely, this is the best balanced sides that has gone to South Africa,” said MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors.
He also added, “With regards to Bumrah, if you see his performance in the last 18 months, it has been phenomenal, sensational in ODIs and T20. Considering his brilliant performance in last year’s Ranji Trophy, he was an unanimous choice.”
But chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav failed to make it to the squad. The young bowler impressed against Australia at home where he bagged a hat-trick in an ODI and he is also a part of the ongoing Indian squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka.
Prasad felt that Kuldeep was, “unfortunate” to have missed out on th Test squad.
He said, “It is unfortunate that Kuldeep Yadav had to miss out as we will be playing only three Test matches in South Africa. Considering him over world’s number 1 and 2 spinners (Ashwin and Jadeja) would have been a big ask. But he is a fine bowler and over a period of time, we would see him grow.”
Sundar, Hooda, Thampi in T20I squad against Sri Lanka
The Indian selectors have given an entirely new look to the T20I side as Kerala pacer Basil Thampi, Baroda skipper Deepak Hooda and Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar have earned their maiden call-ups to the national team.
Sundar was one of the stand-out performers for the Pune franchise in last year’s IPL and has been consistently doing well in domestic cricket. Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has been recalled to the side.
Skipper Virat Kohli expectedly has been rested and Rohit Sharma would lead the young side.
Prasad said, “The Basil Thampis and the Shreyas Iyers have all done well in domestic cricket and then on India A tour to South Africa. Also taking performances of IPL, they are the best performers in the IPL.”
India squad for SA Tests: Virat Kohli (Captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
India squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Basil Thampi, Jaydev Unadkat