Former cricketers lose their calm over omission of Bhuvneshwar Kumar from Centurion Test

Team India surprised everyone with their playing eleven in the ongoing Centurion Test against South Africa. While a couple of changes in the batting order were expected, nobody had expected the team to tinker with the bowling combination. But the Indian team ended up dropping out their most successful bowler from the previous game – Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

It is worth noting that Bhuvi had scalped 6 wickets in Cape Town – the most by any Indian bowler. Also, he faced the most number of deliveries, 127 balls, on a track where the mainstay Indian batsmen failed. Despite this, Indian skipper Virat Kohli reasoned out that extracting more bounce from the track is important in the match and hence, Ishant Sharma gets a nod ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

While Ishant has done nothing wrong thus far in the game, the exclusion of Bhuvi was uncalled for. Former South African speedster Allan Donald exclaimed his disgust on the social media about the same. He noted that leaving out Bhuvneshwar is like leaving out Vernon Philander from the South African side.

“Don’t understand how you can leave a bowler out that don’t have more bounce than a taller bowler @ImIshant. @BhuviOfficial has so much skill and accuracy that he brings. It’s like leaving out @VDP_24!” tweeted Allan Donald.

Donald also tweeted, “@BhuviOfficial left out..you are kidding me????”

Don’t understand how you can leave a bowler out that don’t have more bounce than a taller bowler @ImIshant. @BhuviOfficial has so much skill and accuracy that he brings. It’s like leaving out @VDP_24!

— Allan Donald (@AllanDonald33) January 13, 2018

‘Am I missing something here?’

Former Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman, who has been closely working with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp in the IPL, also expressed that he is bamboozled by the decision made by the team management.

“I am surprised not to find Bhuvi in the playing XI today. In the first Test, he took the most number of wickets (6 wickets) showing skill in using the new ball & batted quite well showing patience nd resilience. Am I missing something here ??” remarked VVS Laxman in his tweet.

Iam surprised not to find Bhuvi in the playing XI today. In the first test,he took the most number of wickets (6 wickets)showing skill in using the new ball & batted quite well showing patience nd resilience.Am I missing something here ?

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 13, 2018

Vinod Kambli, RP Singh join in as well

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli also failed to comprehend the reason behind the exclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He went on to quote that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli and the team management is surprising its own players by taking such decisions.

Veteran pacer RP Singh, who had tasted success in South Africa during the ICC World T20 in 2007, remarked that everything boils down to the perception. He, too, looked unhappy with Bhuvi’s exclusion.

Virat and the Team Management are surprising their own players and confusing us.Heeee ha???? https://t.co/ASGjyzzAmn

— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) January 13, 2018

"Perception isn't the truth but it's bigger than truth these days" And may be that's why Bhuvi isn't a part of playing 11. #IndvSAonSonyTen3

— R P Singh (@RpSingh99) January 13, 2018

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