Jasprit Bumrah was on Friday released from the squad for the ongoing fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, London. This comes amid concerns over his fitness and prior workload management plans set by the team management.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development in an official statement: “Jasprit Bumrah has been released from India`s squad for the fifth Test of the series against England. The fifth and final Test of the series is underway at Kennington Oval, London.”
Bumrah has been India’s standout performer with the ball in the series so far, claiming 14 wickets at an average of just over 26, including two five-wicket hauls. However, despite his wicket tally, his performances with the new ball have been somewhat inconsistent by his high standards, especially when compared to his remarkable showing during India’s previous tour of Australia, where he picked up 32 wickets across five Tests at an astonishing average of just over 13.
The concerns surrounding Bumrah’s fitness were apparent during the fourth Test in Manchester. He appeared to be in discomfort while bowling and notably struggled to hit his usual pace, often falling below the 140 km/h mark. His condition worsened when he had to leave the field after bowling just a single over with the new ball. Although he returned to bowl later in the innings, he was visibly hampered and was even seen hobbling, reportedly after tweaking his ankle while navigating the stairs in the dressing room area.
Despite his valiant effort to push through the pain, Bumrah ended up delivering the most expensive spell of his Test career,conceding 112 runs for just two wickets.
It is also worth noting that ahead of the series, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill had indicated that Bumrah would likely feature in only three of the five Tests to manage his workload, given his history of injuries and a packed calendar. Accordingly, he played the first, third, and fourth Tests.
Meanwhile, pacer Gus Atkinson delivered a devastating spell on Friday morning, claiming a well-deserved five-wicket haul as India were bowled out for a modest 224 in their first innings on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. Resuming on their overnight score of 204 for 6, following a rain-hit opening day, India had hoped to stretch their total and offer some resistance.
