The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced India`s squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies.
Ahead of the Test series, India`s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah has also been named along with the young players in the squad.
But former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that the Caribbean series feels like a missed opportunity for not including a fast bowler.
“It seems like a missed opportunity not to play a young fast bowler in these two Tests, but that`s the team`s current direction. If I were a selector or manager, I would have surely tried to give a young fast bowler an opportunity, focusing on their development, not just quick results. Bumrah remains committed to Test cricket, which is fantastic,” he said.
The former cricketer also feels that the selectors could have provided proper rest to Bumrah and should have used the West Indies series as a chance to groom a young pacer. He added that the team should have a group of eight good pacers, instead of just three or four bowlers.
“Still, it`s good that Bumrah maintains Test cricket as his priority. Selectors could have utilised this series to give proper rest to Bumrah and groom a young fast bowler, something India must prioritise for long-term vision,” he said.
“India needs a group of eight good fast bowlers, not just three or four,” added the 40-year-old former cricketer.
He also stressed Kuldeep Yadav`s inclusion by saying that he would want him to play in the series. Irfan heaped praise on Axar Patel and said that the left-hander strengthens the team and also provides depth in the batting line-up.
“Axar`s return strengthens the team. When Axar plays alongside Washington and Jadeja, the team gains batting depth. Does this mean Kuldeep Yadav may miss out again? I would definitely want to see him play, but with home conditions generally allowing only two fast bowlers, his spot is not guaranteed,” he said.
The two-match Test series between Team India and the West Indies is scheduled to begin from October 2, with the first game to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat.
India`s squad for two Test matches against West Indies: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.
(With ANI Inputs)