South Africa vs India 2018: Four arguments in favour of Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion
Live action from the long-awaited South Africa tour has finally begun. There is an air of excitement surrounding the series after a long time. Finally, the Indian team will be subject to an opposition that will slow down, if not halt, their winning run.
The 1st Test against South Africa provided some surprise selections by Virat Kohli and the team management. Although dropping vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane came as the biggest shocker, giving the greenhorn Bumrah a nod ahead of seasoned veterans Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav was no less a surprise.
However, here are a few reasons why his inclusion is justified:
Wrap up the tail
Shoaib Akhtar always says, “Fast bowling is about two things - toes and nose.” The classical ‘fast’ bowling of the past era was as much about bowling quick as it was about other skills. The likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Dennis Lillee and Curtly Ambrose used to intimidate the batsmen, especially the tail-enders, with raw pace.
The Indian team have seen how frustrating the lower order batsmen can be in the past. South Africa have players like Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj who are no mugs with the bat. They have the potential to not only tire the bowlers out but also act as catalysts to shift the momentum. Bumrah’s toe-crushing yorkers, coupled with nippy bouncers, can help India run through the South African lower order.