India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, on Thursday, ended the speculation regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness for the crucial fourth Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England. Trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, India had lost the first Test in Leeds and the third at Lord’s, with their sole win coming in the second game in Birmingham last month.
Bumrah To Only Play 3 Tests In Five Match Test Series
Before the series, the BCCI had stated that Bumrah would be given only three Tests to ensure his workload management. Head coach Gautam Gambhir supported the decision, deciding to rest the marquee pacer for the Birmingham Test.
In Bumrah’s absence, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep rose to the responsibility, with both securing five-wicket hauls as India won by a huge 336-run margin to level the series. But after a narrow 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord’s, there were fresh calls for Bumrah’s to play the all-important match at Old Trafford next week. The team management obliged this time.
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India’s Assistant Coach Bumrah’s Place In Playing XI
Addressing the media after India’s first practice session ahead of the fourth Test, ten Doeschate acknowledged that Bumrah will indeed feature in the playing XI. Notably, if Bumrah plays as expected, it will be his first appearance at Old Trafford.
“We’ll make that call in Manchester. We know we’ve got him for one of the last two Tests. I think it’s pretty obvious the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him,” he said.
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Old Trafford has traditionally been an unhappy hunting ground for India in Tests. They have drawn five and lost four of the nine matches played at the Manchester ground. India were last scheduled to play there in 2021, but the match was abandoned following a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp.
