India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has dropped a major hint regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Speaking to reporters, ten Doeschate said the team is keen to field the world’s top-ranked pacer, but a final decision will be made after considering several factors, including the playing conditions.
“We’ll make that call on Bumrah in Manchester. It’s clear the series is on the line now, so we’re leaning towards playing him. But we must look at the bigger picture — how many days of cricket we expect, our best chance of winning in Manchester, and how that fits with the Oval Test that follows,” he said.
Team India are currently training at the County Ground in Beckenham before departing for Manchester. Bumrah, India’s second-highest wicket-taker of the series with 12 wickets, remains a key priority as the visitors trail 1-2 in the five-match series.
Ten Doeschate Praises Siraj’s Commitment
Turning his attention to India’s leading wicket-taker, Mohammed Siraj, ten Doeschate described the Hyderabad pacer as “brave” and “courageous,” highlighting his crucial role in the England tour with 13 wickets so far.
“This has been a long tour, and there’s been a lot of discussion about Bumrah’s workload. But going forward, we also need to manage Siraj. I think we often take for granted how lucky we are to have someone like him. He may not always produce results in terms of wickets, but he has the heart of a lion. Every time he has the ball in hand, it feels like something will happen,” he remarked.
The former Netherlands cricketer emphasised the importance of managing Siraj’s workload with the same care as Bumrah to ensure his fitness for the remainder of the series.
“He never shies away from hard work, so it’s even more important for us to manage his workload carefully to ensure he stays fit and performs at his best,” he concluded.
With the series hanging in the balance, India can ill afford another slip-up — which is why all signs point towards Bumrah returning for the crucial Manchester Test.
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