Aakash Chopra, the former India opener made a big claim on pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is not a part of the Test team at the moment. India produced a fighting performance on Day 3 of the second Test in Johannesburg against South Africa, as the side set a 240-run target for the Proteas to win the game.
South Africa did finish the day strongly at 118/2 but the Indian bowlers will be aiming to exploit the deteriorating pitch condition when they return to the field on Day 4.
Aakash Chopra Tweets If Bhuvneshwar Kumar Was Born In South Africa, He Would’ve Ended Up With 250 Or More Test Wickets
The Indian pace attack in the second innings – comprising of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur – wasn’t at its very best during the final session of the day and the absence of Mohammed Siraj, who pulled his hamstring during the first innings of the Test, seemed to make a significant impact.
![Bhuvneshwar Kumar[photo: Twitter]](https://sportzwiki.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/973063-20210508091049.jpg "Aakash Chopra Tweets If Bhuvneshwar Kumar Was Born In South Africa, He Would’ve Ended Up With 250-Plus Test Wickets 3")
“If Bhuvneshwar Kumar was born in South Africa, he would’ve ended up with 250+ Test wickets,” Chopra tweeted.
https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/1478747009561481219?s=20
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has represented India in 21 Tests so far, taking 63 wickets. However, injuries at regular intervals not only plagued his Test career but also impacted his limited-overs outings for the team. The 31-year-old made a return to the Indian team last year in the white-ball series against England, having last represented the side in August 2019.
The Indian bowling attack for this particular Test series has the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Shardul Thakur. While Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav are yet to play a Test match in this series so far, Ravichandran Ashwin is the specialist spinner in the side with Shardul Thakur playing as an all-rounder. Shardul Thakur also bagged his career-best Test figures of 7/61 in this 2nd Test match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Is Facing Stiff Competition From Likes Of Mohammed Siraj And Shardul Thakur
Since Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played a Test, the Indian pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav has achieved significant success in the home and overseas Tests. Over the past year, pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur have also produced impressive performances, adding to further competition for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
However, the 31-year-old bowler is still an integral part of the Indian white-ball setup and has been selected for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. The 31-year-old right-arm pacer has not played multi-day format cricket since January 2018 when he last appeared in a Test in South Africa. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj have been named in the ODI squad facing South Africa.
South Africa, chasing 240 to win is already 118/2 needing another 122 runs to win at stumps on day 3 of the 2nd Test, as the first session of the 4th day’s play was washed due to rain. India is leading 1-0 in the 3 Test match series.
The start of the fourth and penultimate day’s play in the second Test between India and South Africa was on Thursday delayed because of rain. South Africa needs 122 runs to win the match and restore parity in the three-match rubber, while the visiting Indians need eight wickets to emerge victoriously and script their maiden Test series win in the Rainbow Nation.