Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes Jasprit Bumrah must play in the upcoming fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series and reeling from a heavy defeat at Lord’s, Dasgupta feels it is essential for India to bring back their premier fast bowler to avoid further damage.
“Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test, absolutely yes. I’ve heard rumors that the plan for him was to play in the first, third and fifth Tests. But now, when India are 1-2 behind, the fourth Test becomes very, very crucial. You would definitely want the world’s best bowler to play. There is an eight-day gap between the two Tests. It remains to be seen whether the fifth Test is still relevant after the fourth Test, but the relevance of the fourth Test is considerable,” he said on Star Sports.
So far in the series, Bumrah has featured in only two of the three Tests—missing the second match in Birmingham, where India made a comeback win. Ironically, the two games Bumrah played—at Headingley and Lord’s—ended in defeats for India. However, his individual impact with the ball remains undeniable, and he continues to be a vital asset for the team.
Before the series began, the team management had reportedly planned to use Bumrah in only three of the five Tests as part of a workload management strategy. Having already played two, the Old Trafford Test is now seen as a likely appearance for the speedster—especially given the high stakes.
With India trailing and only two matches remaining, the fourth Test could determine the direction of the series. A win for India would not only level the series 2-2 but also potentially influence whether Bumrah is fielded again for the final match at The Oval. But as of now, all signs point toward Bumrah being called upon to rescue India at Manchester.
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