India are “leaning” towards fielding Jasprit Bumrah for the fourth Test matc of the Anderson-Tendukar trophy against England at Old Trafford, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate revealed on Thursday.
Speaking after the team’s lone training session in Beckenham before their departure for Manchester, ten Doeschate confirmed that while a final decision is pending, the magnitude of the match may push India to include their pace spearhead.
Jasprit Bumrah's Availability
“No, we'll make that call [on Bumrah] in Manchester still,” ten Doeschate said. “We know we have got him for one of the last two Tests. It's pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him.”
Bumrah, who returned to Test cricket earlier this year after back surgery in March 2023, came into the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a pre-agreed plan—crafted in consultation with the BCCI medical staff—that he would play only three of the five Tests.
He sat out the second Test at Edgbaston after claiming a five-wicket haul in the series opener at Headingley. India drew level at 1-1 in Birmingham despite his absence and went down in a tense finish at Lord’s, where Bumrah returned and again starred with a five-for in the first innings.
Ten Doeschate said the decision on Bumrah’s selection for Manchester would also be influenced by conditions, workload management, and the tactical puzzle of how to win the final two games.
“But again, we have got to look at all the factors: how many days of cricket are we going to get up there, what do we feel is our best chance of winning that game, and then how that fits in together with The Oval,” he said. “And looking at the last two games holistically as part of the series.”
Mohammed Siraj Workload Too A concern
Bumrah is not the only workload concern. Mohammed Siraj, the series’ leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps at 32.00, has already sent down 109 overs—more than any Indian pacer and behind only Shoaib Bashir, Chris Woakes, and Ben Carse overall.
Siraj was given a light fitness session in Beckenham and did not bowl, but he batted and appeared to have recovered from the heartbreak of Lord’s, where his unfortunate dismissal sealed India’s loss late on day five.
India’s training session was also notable for who didn’t participate fully. Rishabh Pant, battling a painful left index finger injury sustained while diving down the leg side during England’s first innings at Lord’s, did not keep wickets or bat.
Though he took part in some light fitness work and no longer had taping on the finger, its sensitivity remains a concern. Ten Doeschate, however, said the management remained hopeful about Pant’s availability in Manchester.
“He [Pant] will bat in Manchester before the Test,” he said. “Look, I don't think you're going to keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third Test and it's only going to get easier and easier on his finger. And keeping's obviously the last part of the process to make sure that he can keep. We don't want to go through that again where we have to replace the keeper halfway through innings.”
Rishabh Pant As A Batter?
That raises the prospect of Pant playing exclusively as a batter, with Dhruv Jurel keeping wickets. Ten Doeschate didn’t rule out that possibility. “Jurel's in the equation, but I mean obviously if Rishabh's fit, he plays the next Test and does both,” he said.
India’s plans were further complicated by an injury scare to Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm quick suffered a cut on a finger of his bowling hand while stopping a ball in his follow-through and had to leave training immediately to get it taped. Whether the injury requires stitches, and whether Arshdeep remains in contention for the fourth Test, is not yet clear.
“We'll take a call on the combination we play, particularly given the Arshdeep situation as well,” ten Doeschate said. “We'll make that call closer to Manchester.”
With Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep all sitting out of bowling duties, it was India bowling coach Morne Morkel who provided the heat in the nets. Bowling from full run-up and close to the popping crease, the former South Africa pacer challenged batters with bounce and movement, drawing edges and loud appeals—an active reminder of what’s expected come Old Trafford.
India will travel to Manchester on Friday and resume training on Sunday, July 21. The fourth Test begins on July 23, with the series tantalisingly poised at 2-1 in England’s favour.
