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IND vs ENG, 4th Test Playing 11: Jasprit Bumrah is the second highest wicket-taker in the series, with 12 wickets at an average of 21, despite sitting out one Test. (AP Photo)
India vs England 4th Test Playing 11: Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management has been as much a conversation in India’s ongoing Test series in England as the series itself. Their decision to let Bumrah sit out the second Test was met with a flurry of criticism but then incidentally, that has ended up being the only match India has won thus far. At the end of that Test at Edgbaston, Shubman Gill replied with a simple “Definitely” when he was asked if Bumrah will play the next Test at Lord’s. However, after the end of the Lord’s Test, which India lost despite a lengthy and dogged resistance of more than 50 overs from their lower order including Bumrah, Gill was more circumspect when asked the same question.
“You’ll get to know soon,” is what he said.
What the experts say
Former India bowlers Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble are both clear that Bumrah simply has to play the fourth Test at Old Trafford, a ground where the 31-year-old has never played before. The five-match series could be decided there with India trailing 2-1. Kumble, in fact, feels that Bumrah should just play both remaining Test matches.
“I would certainly, if I’m part of that group, push Bumrah to play the next game,” Kumble told JioHotstar after the third Test. “That’s crucial. If he doesn’t play and then we lose the Test, that’s it—the series is done and dusted. I think Bumrah should play both the remaining Tests. I know he’s said he’s going to play only three, but there’s a long break after this. He doesn’t have to play the home series—he can take a break if needed. But I believe he should be out there for the next two.”
Pathan also felt that resting Bumrah again would mean making yet another change to the bowling lineup. “This is the biggest five-match series that you would play abroad in this World Test Championship cycle, and in such a crunch situation, changing too much isn’t ideal—neither for the management nor for the fellow bowlers. In conditions like these, Bumrah’s presence adds a lot of value,” he added.
What the Indian team management has said
India head coach Gautam Gambhir had been clear before the start of the series that Bumrah will only play three matches and reiterated the same after India lost the first Test at Headingley. “Haven’t decided which two matches Bumrah will play but he will play total of three. We need to manage his workload. Scoreline doesn’t change that… he will play three Tests only,” Gambhir had said.
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