India has called-up death over specialist Jasprit Bumrah, while Parthiv Patel has been selected as the backup wicketkeeper for the upcoming important three-match Test series in South Africa which begins on Jan 5th. This is Bumrah’s maiden Test call-up.
"If you see Bumrah's performance in the last 18 months, it's been wonderful. He's been sensational, bowling outstandingly well in both one-dayers and T20s. Considering his performance in Ranji Trophy last season, he bowled brilliantly that whole season. It's a unanimous choice, there were no doubts in picking Bumrah because he definitely adds variety to our pace attack. And considering the nature of wickets there (in South Africa), it will definitely suit his bowling," chairman of the selection committee, MSK Prasad said at a press conference in New Delhi.
The selection panel stuck with the Test regulars for the 17-member squad which includes seven batsmen, two wicketkeeper and extra all-rounder option of Hardik Pandya. Pandya was rested for the on-going Sri Lanka series and underwent training at the NCA in Bangalore.
Squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Parthiv Patel, Jasprit Bumrah