Former England cricketer Nick Compton believes that India didn’t pick the right bowling combination as he stressed that Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur don’t belong to the no.1 test team as he showed a surprise that India is still persisting with them.
Thakur played all three matches in South Africa as he delivered a record-breaking spell (7/61) in the Johannesburg Test and Umesh Yadav played the last test match in Cape Town when Mohammad Siraj missed the final test match due to an injury.
“Re India – Said it last year Thakur is not a world test number one top-line bowler and neither is Yadav. I can’t believe they still get picked! Tell me @RaunakRK,” Nick Compton tweeted.
Re India – Said it last year Thakur is not a world test number one top line bowler and neither is Yadav.. I can’t believe they still get picked! Tell me @RaunakRK …
— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) January 14, 2022
Umesh Yadav conceded 4 runs per over in the final test as he picked two wickets in the first innings. The story is pretty much similar for Shardul Thakur as well as he picked one wicket in each innings. South Africa chased down the target of 212 at the loss of just 3 wickets.
This means India’s dream to win their first series in South Africa, remained unfulfilled. This was the 8th Test series between India and South Africa in the rainbow nation as South Africa won 7 of them, the series in 2010-11 was ended in a draw.
Umesh conceded runs with 4 runs per over in the Cape Town Test:
India team management has been facing criticism for not picking combination as there was a general perception that Ishant’s height factor could have been on these helpful pitches but Ishant’s record wasn’t great last year as he picked just 14 wickets in 8 test matches last year.
His performance wasn’t up to the mark either as he went wicketless in the Headingley Test. And add to that his record in South Africa, the 33-year old picked 20 wickets in 7 matches with an average of 40 which made Indian management think the experienced bowler has gone past his prime.
So they went with Umesh Yadav who picked 6 wickets at the Oval when India famously beat the hosts to take a 2-1 lead in the series. So the team management played a gamble with him as Kohli also stated that the fast bowler is good in the field as he can also score some handy runs down the order.
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