© Associated Press
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has earned a maiden call-up to the India’s Test squad, after being named in the 17-member team for the three-Test series against South Africa, which starts from January 5 in Cape Town. Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has also been recalled, as back-up wicket-keeping option for Wriddhiman Saha.
Bumrah can be seen as radical choice mainly because he has not played first-class cricket in nearly a year. His last appearance in whites was when he turned up for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Jharkhand in January this year. However, the fast nature of pitches at the three Test venues in South Africa – Cape Town, Centurion and Johannesbur – meant that the selectors were keen to have a fifth specialist fast bowler despite the presence of Hardik Pandya as a allrounder. Bumrah’s ability to swing the ball into the right-hander, his searing pace, his crushing and accurate yorkers and his bowling smartness pushed him quickly ahead in the selection queue. His recent form was also not lost on the selectors. In limited-overs cricket Bumrah has been spectacular this year: with 35 wickets, he is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs in 2017.
Given the emphasis on pace, India opted for two frontline spinners in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Hardik Pandya, who had been rested for the Sri Lanka Tests to reduce the risk of injury, has also returned to the squad as expected.
Parthiv’s recall, too, was on expected lines, considering India’s need for a specialist back-up for the wicketkeeper’s slot and his ability to move up and down the batting order. He last played a Test for India against England in Chennai in December 2016.
India team: Virat Kohli (capt), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-capt), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo