Rest for Bumrah, no Nitish Reddy? What India’s bowling could look like for 1st South Africa Test

Could the outcome of India A’s defeat to South Africa A have any ramifications for how the Test bowling line-up could look? Earlier today, the visiting team chased down 417 against the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Given that the India vs South Africa 1st Test begins in just 5 days, it isn’t exactly a great look. All of these bowlers are part of India’s squad, and at least one of them is expected to play the two matches. Yet, they failed to defend a target of over 400. The pitch had flattened out, but that can’t be an excuse for what are world-class bowlers.

No rest for Jasprit Bumrah

That begs the question: will this effect for India’s bowling line-up look like it for the Kolkata Test? Even if it does, it won’t be much. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja weren’t playing, and they should walk into the XI. Of course, that is if Bumrah isn’t rested. That won’t likely happen since the management had played him against the West Indies after no rest.

Kuldeep & Siraj confirmed

Kuldeep had taken the most wickets against the Windies and was sent back early from Australia to play for India A as preparations for the South Test series. Yes, he didn’t do well in the A match, but the management looks determined to play him.

That leaves one pacer spot. Prasidh Krishna outperforms Siraj and Akash, but he isn’t the second pacer after Bumrah. Siraj has been that guy for years now and won’t be displaced. But if the Eden Gardens helps pacers, the management might pick Prasidh over Akash, who was initially the preferred pacer in Indian conditions.

No Nitish Reddy?

The last question would be whether to play Nitish Kumar Reddy or not. Even if assuming that he’s fit for selection, one has to wonder why he must play. Although the all-rounder played both Test matches against the West Indies, he bowled just 4 overs and batted once. Despite India bowling 290 overs, all he got was 4 overs.

One wonders why play him at all if he won’t bowl. And then comes the Dhruv Jurel conundrum. The wicketkeeper batter scored 309 runs against South Africa A and was dismissed just once. Jurel also scored a hundred against the West Indies. Such has been his performance that reports suggest that Jurel will replace Nitish in the XI.

That means India is likely to go with just 5 bowlers: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.

India squad for South Africa Test series

Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep