India is scheduled to travel to South Africa which will be part of the new WTC cycle. Meanwhile, cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra feels that Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be a good inclusion in the team. Notably, Bhuvi was not part of the WTC final and subsequent England Test series.
New Zealand won the first-ever World Test Championship tournament by defeating India in the final. However, after the loss, many questions were raised on Bhuvneshwar’s absence from the squad. The main reason behind the discussion was the pitch. The surface at Southampton was offering a lot of swing and India’s best swing bowler in Test is Bhuvneshwar. Other than Bhuvneshwar, there was also lot of talk about Hardik Pandya’s absence. The reason Pandya was left out from the series was his back injury. He has not recovered from the injury as yet which is why he has not started bowling in full swing.
Meanwhile, both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya will be seen together in the India tour of Sri Lanka. The series was rescheduled and will begin from July 18 in Colombo.
In his latest YouTube video, Aakash Chopra was asked question by a fan. The question stated that if Hardik and Bhuvneshwar perform well can they get a spot in the Test team.
I will once again have Bhuvneshwar in my thoughts for South Africa : Aakash Chopra
Replying to the question Chopra said “You did not leave Bhuvneshwar Kumar out because there was an issue with his fitness. There were reports that he doesn’t want to play Tests but he denied that and said that he wants to play.”
“Hardik Pandya has made it very clear that he is not going to bowl in Test cricket at this point. Hardik’s name will not come in Tests unless he bowls, that thing is almost written in stone although he has a Test century as well. But then if he is not bowling, you won’t play him, you will play a proper batsman, maybe a Hanuma Vihari or someone else,” he added.
Former Indian opener also believes that the Bhuvneshwar should be included in the Test squad. He also feels Bhuvneshwar will definitely do well.
“If we talk about Bhuvneshwar and see where the next tours are, I will once again have him in my thoughts for South Africa. Before that, the matches that are there in India, you won’t play him in those. You could have probably taken him to England but you didn’t,” Chopra said.
“Next is South Africa, I will definitely have him in my thoughts, whether he does well here or not. He will do well, but just in case he doesn’t, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s calibre, pedigree, and talent are not dependent on a few games. If you have to get him, it is a strategical and tactical decision, which you can definitely make,” he signed off.
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