WTC Final: ‘Selectors did not pay attention to the current form and went on reputation’ – Saba Karim on Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion

WTC Final: ‘Selectors did not pay attention to the current form and went on reputation’ – Saba Karim on Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion

Saba Karim and Jasprit Bumrah

Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim has questioned speedster Jasprit Bumrah’s place in the side during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The ace fast bowler looked quite flat during the entire match as he went wicketless in both innings. 

The former wicketkeeper-batsman reckoned that the selectors went with Bumrah based on his past performances and not the recent form. He further added that the 27-year-old has not played any Test game since he got injured in Australia. Moreover, he looked out of colour in the recent limited-overs games as well.

“I feel the selectors did not pay attention to the current form and went on reputation to a certain extent. Jasprit Bumrah has not played red-ball cricket since he got injured in Australia,” Karim told India News.

“He has only played white-ball cricket and that too only the T20s. He did not play in the home series against England. I felt he was woefully out of form and along with that out of practice if we talk about red-ball cricket,” he added.

‘Bumrah was getting back his rhythm in the second innings spell’: Karim

Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah

Saba Karim mentioned that Bumrah was seen regaining his form during his second innings spell and was unlucky on a few occasions as well. However, he highlighted that the Ahmedabad-born wasn’t able to find the right red-ball cricket length which is a vital problem and needs to be addressed in the upcoming series.

“To a certain extent, I felt he was getting back his rhythm in the second innings spell he bowled, he was also unlucky at times. But in the end, he couldn’t catch the length that is required in red-ball cricket, especially in conducive conditions, in the entire Test match. I feel this is a very big area of concern and it is required to rectify this in the upcoming series,” he pointed out.

Jasprit Bumrah will now be seen in action during the five-match Test series against England, starting from August 4 at the Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

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