Mukesh Kumar's Irani Cup spell raises New Zealand selection question
Mukesh Kumar's 6 for 33 in the Irani Cup final has renewed debate over his place in India's Test squad for New Zealand.
Mukesh Kumar took 6 for 33 as Rest of India bowled Jammu and Kashmir out for 111 to win the Irani Cup by 167 runs in Srinagar on October 5. Akash Deep took 3 for 25, the pair sharing nine wickets.
Mukesh had conceded 12 in his first three overs, then asked Sarfaraz Khan for another spell. He came back and removed Shubham Pundir, Paras Dogra and three more to finish with 8 for 92.
The surface offered seam movement, the same conditions India will meet in Wellington and Christchurch next month. Mukesh has played three Tests, taken seven wickets at 25.57, six of them overseas.
CricHubb Take
The question now is whether Mukesh's numbers overseas are enough to get him on the plane, or whether the selectors prefer a younger seamer who might still be learning the conditions when the series starts.