India’s tour of South Africa: Race between Bumrah and Kuldeep for extra bowler’s slot

Virat Kohli will get much-needed rest for the second half of the Sri Lanka series while yorker specialist Jasprit Bumrah would fight for the extra bowler’s slot with chinaman Kuldeep Yadav when the national selectors pick the squad for the South Africa Test series in Nagpur on Monday.

In all the national selection committee will announce four separate squads. One will be for the third Test against Sri Lanka followed by ODI and T20 squads and the all-important Test squad for the South Africa series.

Kohli, who has been playing non-stop cricket since IPL, will be given a month’s break to recharge his batteries as he is sure to skip the limited overs series (3 ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals) against Sri Lanka in December, where Rohit Sharma will be in charge.

In case Kohli also decides to opt out of third Test against Sri Lanka in New Delhi, starting December 2, then Ajinkya Rahane will be leading the side. However, the focus of attention during on Monday’s selection meeting will be on the tour to South Africa, which will be the first big test of Kohli’s men against a top side in overseas condition.

It is expected to be a 17-member squad that …read more