Why was unfit Bhuvneshwar Kumar forced to play? BCCI asks

Was speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar forced to play with an injury in the last One-dayer against England on Tuesday?

That's the question India captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri will be asked after the senior selection panel was forced to drop Uttar Pradesh pacer on Wednesday for the first three Tests against England.
According to a source, the selection committe discussed the possibility that by playing an unfit Bhuvi in the final ODI, the bowler's back injury has been aggravated and that he might miss the entire five-match Test series.

DNA has reliably learnt that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to seek a report from the team management over the inclusion of Bhuvneshwar, despite the latter is said to have let them know of his injury on the eve of the final ODI.
In fact, it has also been learnt that BCCI secretary and convenor of the selection meeting Amitabh Choudhary also asked "why the pacer was made to play when he was not fit?"

During the toss on Tuesday, Kohli termed the move to include Bhuvneshwar as a "routine affair" as he wanted to give all the pacers a chance in the series. Going by the insider account, pacer did complain about his struggling back on the match eve but was forced to play after physio intervention.

Bhuvi struggle was so very evident throughout his presence on the field and he even failed to finish his quota of 10 overs. "He (Bhuvi) surprisingly cleared the Yo-Yo test despite getting injured during the IPL. If he wasn't fit, how was he cleared to play in the first place?" A top board official has questioned the authenticity of Yo-Yo test.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the decision on whether to include Bhuvneshwar in the squad for last two Tests will only be made after further medical scans.

With the Test series starting on August 1, Bhuvneshwar left for London to consult a specialist doctor. Though it is not clear whether he will return to India or stay on in England with the team and undergo rehabilitation at the expense of the BCCI.
Moreover, the move to increase the squad strength to 18 has also not gone well with certain sections of the BCCI especially after the physio and the trainer have declared all the selected players fit before the tour.

"Team India had 17-member squad for South Africa and now it has come to 18. Some niggles are understandable, but when all are declared fit by a qualified support staff, engaged at such high cost they, there is a need for accountability," said a senior official.

Pant gets maiden call

The selectors on Wednesday handed Delhi's young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant his maiden call to the 18-member Test side.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also been included alongwith Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The list also includes pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who will only be available from second Test onwards, due to an injury picked up during the IPL.
The pace department, otherwise, has experienced Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav alongwith Mumbai youngster Shardul Thakur.

Despite skipper Kohli putting weight behind both wrist spinners — Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep — the selectors have only accommodated Kuldeep thus denying Chahal his second consecutive overseas assignment.
As expected, wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha failed to find a place in the side alongwith man in form (ODI series) Rohit Sharma. Karun Nair, who replaced him for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, has managed to retain his place in the squad that has seven specialist batsmen, three all-rounders and two wicket-keepers.

Importantly, Pant even failed to make it to the initial India A squad for the tour of England. He was only roped in as a replacement for Sanju Samson, who had failed the Yo-Yo test.
Pant made his presence felt with four fifties so far and with one more innings to go in the series, his inclusion has been seen as fitting reward for this young stroke player.