Even before the start of the Test series against South Africa, India suffered a big setback with their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the entire three-match series. A stress fracture ruled Bumrah out of the series with Umesh Yadav replacing the pace spearhead. Missing Bumrah would definitely be a huge blow for the hosts.
The right-arm pacer has been an absolute revelation in Tests since making his debut last year. In just 12 Tests so far, he has picked up an impressive 60 wickets with five-wicket hauls in Australia, England, South Africa and West Indies. In his last outing which was in West Indies, he picked up five-wicket hauls in both the matches.
In the first innings of the first Test, he picked up 5 wickets for just 7 runs. In the following Test, he picked up a six-wicket haul including a hat-trick. Unsurprisingly, the fans on social media have expressed their disappointment over the news of Bumrah being ruled out. But surprisingly, they have also raised questions over the selection of Umesh Yadav.
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The treatment meted out to Umesh by the fans is really tough to understand. And former India opener Aakash Chopra had to take to Twitter to slam Umesh Yadav’s critics. The ex-cricketer-turned-commentator reminded the critics of Umesh Yadav’s last Test at home when he picked up ten wickets against West Indies.
“For tweeples having issues with Umesh’s selection—Umesh took 10 wickets in the last home Test he played. On a flat Hyderabad pitch when India were a bowler down on day-1…has played only one Test since then,” wrote Aakash Chopra.
For tweeples having issues with Umesh’s selection—
Umesh took 10 wickets in the last home Test he played. On a flat Hyderabad pitch when India were a bowler down on day-1…has played only one Test since then. #IndvSA— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 24, 2019
In the Hyderabad Test against West Indies in 2018, Umesh Yadav had returned with figures 6 for 88 and 4 for 45. India had lost debutant Shardul Thakur in the very first hour of the match but had gone on to win the match thank to Yadav’s fine display.
Meanwhile, the first Test between India and South Africa will be played from October 2 at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
