Shamik Chakrabarty
Jasprit Bumrah is set to play at Old Trafford, the fourth Test between England and India that commences on July 23, RevSportz understands. The fast bowler skipped the second Test at Edgbaston to manage his workload, notwithstanding that there was a week’s gap between the first Test and the second. The Lord’s Test ended on July 14 and it is learnt that Bumrah would be available for the next game.
The 31-year-old bagged a five-for in the first innings at Headingley but went wicketless in the second, as England chased down 373 to win by five wickets. Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep were immense at Edgbaston, and handsomely contributed to India’s resounding victory in the second Test in Bumrah’s absence.
The great fast bowler returned at Lord’s and claimed 5/74 in the first innings. In the second dig, his figures read: 16-3-38-2. But it didn’t tell the whole story, for at times during that innings, Bumrah gave a seam-bowling masterclass and was unlucky not to get more wickets.
Bumrah opting out of the second Test, on the heels of a seven-day gap, drew criticism from several quarters. Even Ravi Shastri didn’t mince his words. “You have lost three against New Zealand, you have lost three against Australia. You have lost the first Test match here and you want to get back to winning ways. You have the best fast bowler in the side, in the world, and you make him sit out after seven days of rest, it’s something very hard to believe,” the former India head coach had said on Sky Sports.
The Indian team management, however, has maintained that Bumrah won’t be playing more than three Tests in this series, and according to Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, “scoreline doesn’t change that”.
In a ‘heat-affected’ series, Bumrah so far has bowled 86.4 overs. But Manchester is going to be cooler. The mercury is hovering around 20 degrees Celsius during daytime in the north-west and the game could be affected by rain interruptions. Down 2-1, if India lose in Manchester, they will concede the series. And according to Anil Kumble, allowing Bumrah to cool his heels at Old Trafford would be a recipe for disaster.
“I would certainly, if I’m a part of that group, I would certainly push Bumrah to play the next game because that’s crucial,” the legendary leg-spinner, who also served as India head coach, said on JioHotstar after the Lord’s Test. “If he doesn’t play and then you lose the Test match, that’s it. (The) series is done and dusted. I think Bumrah should play both the Test matches. I know he said, ‘I’m only going to play three’. We have a long break after this. You don’t need to play the home series. You can take a break if you want. But Bumrah should be playing the next.”
As things stand, Bumrah will play in Manchester.
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