Follow UsThe India team is lagging 1-2 behind in the five-match Test series against England, and the major question for them going ahead into the two Tests at Old Trafford and The Oval surrounds the availability of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah, who had already clarified before the series that the physio has advised to play three Tests, has already played two. Coincidentally, India lost both in Leeds and London when he played and won their only Test in the series in Birmingham, where Bumrah was warming the bench.
With the series on the line in Manchester, India would ideally want their bowling spearhead to be available, and Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted that it might be the case as well.
“No, we'll make that call [on Bumrah] in Manchester still," India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, after the one-off practice day in Beckenham.
“We know we have got him for one of the last two Tests. It's pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him.
“But again, we have got to look at all the factors: how many days of cricket are we going to get up there, what do we feel is our best chance of winning that game, and then how that fits in together with The Oval. And looking at the last two games holistically as part of the series.”
The Dutchman also gave an update on Rishabh Pant’s finger injury, and said that the team is hoping to have him ready to both bat and keep the wickets in the next Test, after Dhruv Jurel subbed in for him at Lord’s after his finger was injured early in the game.
“He [Pant] will bat in Manchester before the Test," ten Doeschate said.
"Look, I don't think you're going to keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third Test, and it's only going to get easier and easier on his finger. And keeping's obviously the last part of the process to make sure that he can keep. We don't want to go through that again, where we have to replace the keeper halfway through innings. Jurel's in the equation, but I mean obviously if Rishabh's fit, he plays the next Test and does both.”