Jasprit Bumrah set to miss the final India vs England Test
The visitors put up a brilliant effort at Old Trafford to keep the five-match series alive in England. While the chance of a series victory has exited the equation, there is a chance to evade a defeat by claiming the final India vs England Test. The fifth and the last Test is scheduled to kick off on July 31 at the Oval. Meanwhile, despite the fixture being important in India's bid to draw the series, the guests will not play Jasprit Bumrah in their combination. While the Oval Test is as crucial as it gets, India is not keen on risking Bumrah's fitness in the longer run for the sake of a single match.
Jasprit Bumrah all but confirmed to miss the final India vs England Test, Akash Deep fit to be named replacement
The toll that bowling consistently longer spells across a five-match Test series takes on Jasprit Bumrah came out in the clear following the Border Gavaskar Trophy. While India lost the series 1-3, Bumrah emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 32 wickets across the five matches Down Under. However, the speedster took a heavy blow on his back by carrying India's load against the Kangaroos. Bumrah's fitness broke down as the pacer was forced to leave the Sydney Test, the last fixture, midway to tend to his back.
The injury endured in the BGT kept Bumrah out of action for over a couple of months. India's proven match-winner across formats, Bumrah, had to miss the ICC Champions Trophy as he recovered from his injury. Bumrah's unique action requires a lot from the seamer's body, posing enhanced threat to his fitness. His back has been an area of concern for quite some time now, with the pacer even requiring surgery to return to the game. With all of these factors in mind, a workload management plan was devised for the seamer ahead of the India vs England series.
Prioritising his fitness, Bumrah also let go of the opportunity to claim India's Test captaincy after the retirement of Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, the Indian management confirmed that the pace spearhead would play only three out of the five Tests in England. While the visitors have covered a thrilling and intensely dramatic run in the series, the plans around Jasprit Bumrah have remained the same. The pacer opened with a five-wicket haul in the Headingley Test, the India vs England series opener.
Going by the earlier confirmed setting, Bumrah then missed the Edgbaston Test before joining the Playing XI for the Lord's Test. Returning after an extended recovery time, Bumrah kept up his pace at Lord's, scalping another five-wicket haul. However, the speedster's signatory sharpness eluded him in the Manchester Test. Playing the consecutive Tests without a break, the pace spearhead struggled to bowl consistently in the leagues of 140 kph. Evidently, Bumrah's body demands a significant rest between two fixtures.
As per the latest update, Jasprit Bumrah has been confirmed to miss out on the final India vs England Test. After the visitors managed to force a draw in the Manchester Test, the series stands 2-1 in the favor of England. Buying a chance at Old Trafford, India would aim at nothing short of a victory at the Oval to wrap up the five-match series leveled at 2-2. However, the team's victory strategy for the next fixture in India cricket schedule would be centered around the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
While India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, did not give a concrete answer on the pacer's availability, the reports have now all but confirmed his absence. Meanwhile, Akash Deep is likely to be called back in the India Playing XI at the Oval. The seamer missed out on the Manchester Test as he tended to a groin strain. Thankfully, Akash Deep seems to have recovered well in time for the final Test. Moreover, further updates from the camp have informed that Arshdeep Singh is also fit for selection in the upcoming match.
The left-arm seamer endured an injury on his bowling hand ahead of the Manchester Test, missing out on his Test debut. Dealing with the injuries of Arshdeep, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep, India called up Anshul Kamboj in the squad, who made his debut in Manchester. However, the youngster could not leave a mark in his maiden Test, struggling to bowl at the desired pace. The reports suggest that Arshdeep Singh is set to get his Test cap next, replacing Kamboj in the pace attack at the Oval. Meanwhile, India's most reliable workhorse in the format, Mohammed Siraj, is ready to set in action again.
