From the time Ajit Agarkar announced in the second half of May that Jasprit Bumrah would be available for only three of the five Tests in England, a guessing game has unfolded. The first Test in Leeds, for sure, but which two of the other four? Now, three-fifths into the series, it has come down to which one of the last two.
India must win the fourth Test starting on Wednesday to retain hopes of a come-from-behind triumph, but even when they fell 0-1 down after Headingley, they didn’t field Bumrah in Birmingham (where India won by 336 runs). There is no guarantee, therefore, that the lead bowler will line up in Manchester, though assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said in Beckenham on Thursday that India were ‘leaning’ towards playing Bumrah at Old Trafford.
Pacers skip bowling in nets
It’s nothing more than a mere coincidence that India have lost both Tests with Bumrah in the mix despite his five-wicket hauls in the first innings of the two games. As expected, while he was part of the training session in Beckenham, just outside London, he didn’t bowl, nor did Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who sent down 36.3 and 31 overs respectively in the Lord’s loss compared to Bumrah’s 43.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant leaves the field after injuring his left index finger on Day One of the Lord’s Test recently; (right) pacer Arshdeep Singh during India’s practice session at Lord’s last week
Alongside the management of Bumrah’s body, there is now a new headache confronting the Indian management — Rishabh Pant’s left index finger. The mercurial wicketkeeper-batter picked up an injury while keeping wicket on Day One at Lord’s, after which he was reduced to playing as a batter, with Dhruv Jurel a competent replacement behind the sticks. Jurel did concede 25 byes in the second innings — England’s margin of victory was 22 — but that had more to do with the ball swinging wildly after passing the stumps than major fumbles from the stand-in stumper. India will give Pant every opportunity to recover fully from the injury, which evidently bothered him when he came out to bat on the final morning. During his short stay, he kept wringing his hand every time his bat made contact with the ball. Time is his ally, with the fourth Test still some way away; Shubman Gill will be desperately hoping his deputy turns up fine, that he is fit enough to perform the dual duties that make him such an indispensable member of this outfit. If Pant is not in a position to slot in behind the stumps, it’s more or less a given that Jurel will occupy that role, with the Delhi left-hander playing as a specialist batter, but it’s a call that need not be taken immediately.
Adding to India’s woes is the injury to his bowling hand sustained in Beckenham by the uncapped left-arm quick, Arshdeep Singh.
Selection woes deepen
If India do decide to rest Bumrah, Arshdeep and Prasidh Krishna, who played the first two Tests, would have been in the race for the third seamer’s berth. Now, one isn’t sure if Arshdeep will be available for selection, adding a new twist as India aspire to break their duck at Old Trafford.
12
No. of wickets claimed by Jasprit Bumrah in two Tests of the ongoing series against England
