Lack of game-time reason behind Bhuvneshwar’s exclusion, reveals BCCI official

Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn’t played Test Cricket for India for close to three years now with fitness being the major issue. However, with the Uttar Pradesh pacer making a brilliant return to the national side and visibly fitter, it has become a talking point why he was not picked in the side for a Test series which fits his kind of bowling better.

However, a BCCI official seemed to have revealed that his lack of game-time in the red-ball format is the major reason behind the exclusion.

"The selectors think that he is still not fit to play long format especially on such a long tour," said a source, reported IANS.

The Indian selectors have picked six pace bowlers in Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav while another three pacers - Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla - have been kept in stand-by.

However, with the Indian team already confirmed to tour Sri Lanka in early July for a limited-overs tour, it is certain that Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the spearhead of the attack in that series.