Twitter Reactions: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the Test series against South Africa

While the Indian fans were eagerly awaiting to see speedster Jasprit Bumrah make a sensational Test debut at home, a piece of bad news has struck them. The 25-year-old bowler has been ruled out of the three-Test series against South Africa scheduled to kick off on October 2. The first match will be played in Visakhapatnam and the hosts will be looking to build on their magnificent start to the ICC Test Championship with a 2-0 win over the West Indies recently.

Bumrah, who has had a tremendous first year in Test cricket by picking up 62 wickets in 12 matches, is yet to play a long-format match at home. While many had a doubt whether he could be as successful on less friendly home turfs, there were many who were convinced he will. But with his crashing out of the series because of a minor stress fracture, the fans will have to wait for some more time.

Bumrah, who took a hat-trick in Tests in the Caribbeans in the recent series, is currently the highest-ranked Test bowler for India and the third overall after Australia’s Pat Cummins and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. The upcoming series was also expected to be a showdown between Bumrah and Rabada, another pacer who has enthralled world cricket in recent times, but it is not going to be the case anymore.

Umesh Yadav replaced Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah was replaced by Umesh Yadav who had taken a 10-wicket haul in one of the home Tests against the West Indies last year but was dropped later because of his inconsistency. Bumrah’s absence will add to the responsibilities of Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami although India will be banking on their spin attack in home conditions.

Experts and former players have expressed concern over Bumrah’s absence in the series, saying it will be a blow for India. Bumrah made his Test debut in South Africa last year and ended up with 14 scalps from three games at an average around 25. He didn’t play in the just concluded T20I series against the Proteas that ended 1-1.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: