Australia vs India 2018: Bhuvneshwar's Inclusion for First Test will Surprise Me - Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar, the cricket turned commentator, has admitted that Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s inclusion in the opening Test between India and Australia from December 6 will surprise him.

Meanwhile, India will arguably start the Test series as the favourites with the home side struggling in recent times. Virat Kohli & Co will be desperate to rewrite the history books winning their first-ever series. Although they have struggled in the overseas tours of South Africa and England, India can indeed turn their favour Down Under.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a crucial component in the South Africa series where he picked ten wickets from two games. Since then, he hasn’t played a Test match due to injury and the selectors looking after his workload. The pacer from Uttar Pradesh has been equally effective in the limited-overs, but his recent poor form has led Sanjay Manjrekar to leave him out from the Test side. The former cricketer feels it will be tough for Kumar to replace Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, who have been in decent form of late.

“Bhuvneshwar would not be in my XI for the first Test, purely because he would find it difficult to dislodge the three seamers who are likely to play in the first Test on current form, fitness, everything. Ishant Sharma was very consistent in England, so he is your perfect third seam option. Jasprit Bumrah is the leader of the attack,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo’s Cricket Monthly.

Mohammed Shami was pretty impressive in England, so Bhuvneshwar would find it difficult to dislodge these three. Maybe in the second Test, at Perth, he might have an opportunity, but the Bhuvneshwar Kumar we saw in South Africa and the one we are seeing now, post-injury, he is not the same bowler. I would be very surprised if he is picked for the first Test. And after that it depends on the performance of the other three seamers,” Manjrekar added.