Reports: Bhuvneshwar Kumar's inclusion in the first Test came at the last minute

Though the final result didn’t go as the cricket pundits were expecting it to be, Indian bowlers were able to put up a mesmerising performance to keep South African batting lineup quiet. However, if the sources are to be believed, the hero of First Test was all set to be excluded. On the morning of the First Test, 5 January, Indian speedster Ishant Sharma woke up with a severe headache, bordering on the feverish. In a couple of hours, Ishant Sharma was expected to buckle up and work regressively on the field but things didn’t fall into place.

With Ishant’s exclusion, India had two options, either to go with Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Umesh Yadav. Indian Team management had put their stake in the former. Virat Kohli asked his boys to bowl and it was the 27-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was able to provide the breakthrough in very first over. He went on to pick a wicket each in his first three overs, putting Indian Team right on top at the start of day’s play.

Sitting in the pavilion, the Indian bowling Coach Bharat Arun was delighted that his decision went in favour of his team. With a six-wicket haul in the first Test, Bhuvi has been able to cement his place in the side and is quite likely to represent white colours in the next Test as well.

No Doubt for Bumrah’s Inclusion

On the other hand, the Team Management didn’t have a sprinkle of a doubt for the inclusion of the white ball hero. Jasprit Bumrah who hadn’t played a first class 5 day game last year had enough ODI numbers to his side that Team didn’t have to think twice about his inclusion. Though he wasn’t able to bowl to his strengths in the first innings, he was able to come back strongly the second innings helping India to restrict South Africa to 130 runs.

In the conversation with TOI, Bharat Arun, India’s Bowling Coach said, “Those who’ve seen Bumrah go about from close quarters say “his clarity of mind is everything about him”. The only thing that Bumrah does off the field, they say, is “focus on how he bowled and how he should have bowled” on a particular day or occasion. “The best thing about him is his ability to distance himself from any kind of distraction.”

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