Here's why Bumrah and not Kuldeep was picked in Virat Kohli's squad vs South Africa
New Delhi: While Jasprit Bumrah has been a key component in Indian side for ODIs and Twenty20s, the 23-year-old, on Monday, received his first Test team call-up after he was picked in the Virat Kohli-led Indian squad for the three-match Test series in South Africa starting earlier next year.
Read: BCCI announce Team India squad for Sri Lanka T20s, South Africa Test tour
The MSK Prasad-led selection committee picked 17-man Indian squad for what could be a tough series against Faf du Plessis and co.
Bumrah, who has 52 and 40 wickets against his name from 28 ODIs and 30 T20Is respectively, added more depth to Indian pace-bowling attack which consists of Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
Talking about Bumrah’s selection, MSK Prasad said, "With regards to Bumrah, if you see his performance in the last 18 months, it has been phenomenal, sensational in ODIs and T20. Considering the his brilliant performance in last year's Ranji Trophy, he was an unanimous choice.”
"There was no doubt in picking Bumrah because he definitely adds variety to pace attack. The nature of wickets in South Africa will suit his bowling,” added Prasad as he justified the Gujarat pacer’s selection in the Indian Test squad.
While Bumrah, alongside his Gujarat Ranji Trophy teammate Parthiv Patel, were picked in the Indian squad, chinaman Kuldeep Yadav could not make it to the side.
Read: Ignored by selectors, Kuldeep Yadav once contemplated suicide
Prasad termed Kuldeep’s exclusion as “unfortunate”
"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 (R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) would have been a big ask. But he is a fine bowler and over a period of time, we would see him grow," said Prasad.
Indian squad for three Tests versus South Africa:
Virat Kohli (Captain), Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Parthiv Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Burmah, Hardik Pandya.
