After Perth drubbing, Virat Kohli explains why India did not pick Bhuvneshwar Kumar

It did not take much time for Australia to give the finishing touches to the inaugural Test at the new Perth Stadium on the fifth day morning. India resumed their innings from their overnight score of 112 for 5 but could not survive the first session, losing their remaining wickets for just 28 runs more. They were required to score 287 to win the match. With this victory, the hosts squared the series 1-1 after losing the first match in Adelaide by 31 runs. The third match will be played in Melbourne starting, December 26- Boxing Day.

India did well to come back into the game after Lunch on Day 4 when Mohammed Shami’s magnificent spell saw Australia sliding from 192 for 4 to 243 all out. Shami took 6 for 56 which is his best figures in the longest format. However, India’s batting let them down once again and with first innings centurion Virat Kohli, the team’s captain, also getting back into the hut early leaving the side reeling at 55 for 4, the conclusion was more or less drawn.

India’s team selection came under scanner again

The 146-run loss brought India’s team-selection calls under question again. The tourists came up with a 13-member squad on the eve of the match and eventually picked four fast bowlers for the game, excluding Ravindra Jadeja who was predicted to replace an injured Ravichandran Ashwin. Umesh Yadav came in for Ashwin but could not take more than two wickets in the match. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the other pacer in the squad, was also picked for the 13 but eventually sat out. When Kohli was asked about Bhuvneshwar’s elimination in the post-match conference, he said the bowler hasn’t played much of Test cricket of late.

The 28-year-old bowler last played a Test in January this year against South Africa and missed the England series because of an injury. “Bhuvi hasn’t played a lot of test cricket recently, Umesh picked 10 wickets in his last match and was in good rhythm so we picked him. We could have considered Ashwin if he was fully fit,” Kohli said.

Yadav picked 10 wickets in the last Test match he played at home against the Windies in October.

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