"Selection panel set Bumrah on a fitness regime before SA Tests," says MSK Prasad

BCCI's chief selector MSK Prasad, who has been in the firing line for several questionable selections in his tenure, opened up about the toughest decision that his committee has made thus far. One of the biggest contributions of the panel was including Jasprit Bumrah, long considered a T20I and ODI specialist till then, in the Test squad for the tour of South Africa early last year.

In a long interview with 'Mumbai Mirror', Prasad spoke about the process of selecting Bumrah in the side, and how the management ensured that the Gujarat pacer followed a strict fitness regime.

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“Not many believed that he could play Test cricket. So when the selectors and the team management realised that a bowler like him can be handy when we toured abroad, we set him on a fitness and grooming regime,” Prasad said.

Bumrah is currently recuperating from a stress fracture in his lower back that he suffered after the tour of West Indies. He has had an immediate impact in the longest format of the game, becoming the third-fastest Indian to claim 50 Test wickets. He has thus far claimed 62 wickets in 12 games.

“We rested him from a limited-overs series and made him play Ranji before we picked him for the South Africa series. So there was planning that went behind Bumrah."

Prasad also spoke about including Hardik Pandya in the Test squad and stated that not many believed that the all-rounder, who has made a mark in T20Is, could make an impact in Tests.

“There was certain planning that went behind Hardik Pandya’s introduction into Tests. Again not many believed that a guy who comes from T20 background could go on to play Test cricket,” Prasad was quoted as saying. Pandya too is out injured, and recently underwent back surgery.