Former Indian skipper has commented on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s exclusion from Team India’s World Test Championship final squad and the England Test series that follows. The BCCI selection committee announced the squad on May 7. They picked a 20-member squad as India travels to England to play in the all-important WTC final as well as a five-Test series against the hosts Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, and Mohammed Shami returned to the side after recovering from injuries while the likes of Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed out.

Analysing the Indian squad on his Youtube channel, Aakash Chopra spoke about Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s exclusion from the squad. Kumar is a part of the richly talented core of India’s pace bowling group at the moment. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Absence Is Surprising: Aakash Chopra

“Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s name not being there is a little surprising from my point of view. It is possible he might not have gotten fit till the WTC final or you may not have wanted to take a chance with him,” said Chopra on his Youtube channel.

Chopra further said that for such a long tour which also includes a Test series against England in England, a bowler like Bhuveshwar Kumar should have been included in the squad given his ability to swing the new ball.

Also Read: Aakash Chopra Predicts Hardik Pandya’s Future in Test Cricket

 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Is An Asset in England: Aakash Chopra

 “But if there are five Test matches in England and you have a bowler like Bhuvi bowling at his peak, you can surely play him two or three of the fiveTest matches. That’s what I would be thinking that if I get a bowler like Bhuvi in those conditions, he is an asset.

But his name is not there for a series that starts in August and ends in September, there are five Test matches. When we talk about the huge squads, if he is fit, then why not Bhuvneshwar Kumar. You might also be thinking the same,” concluded Chopra.

Aakash Chopra also opined on the absence of Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya from the squad, While he termed, Kuldeep’s exclusion a ‘little hard’, Chopra said Hardik’s inability to bowl at the moment cost him his place in the squad. 

India’s Squad For WTC Final & England Test Series

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance)

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla

Also Read: 3 Deserving Players Who Missed Out From ICC World Test Championship Final Squad