Will India gamble with Jasprit Bumrah in do-or-die Manchester Test against England?

Team India is considering playing Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Manchester Test of the five-match series, which will stop his participation in the final game of the contest at The Oval.

As part of his workload management, Bumrah is slated to play only three games in the ongoing series.

England lead the series by 2-1 and a victory at Old Trafford would see them seal the series lock, stock, and barrel. Bumrah had skipped the Birmingham Test encounter where India registered a massive victory.

“We know we have got him for one of the last two tests,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate told reporters after a training session on Thursday.

“It’s pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him.”

“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.”

Bumrah has registered a five-wicket haul in both of the Tests that he has played so far, though the team has ended up losing the two games too.

Rishabh Pant, who suffered a finger injury at Lord’s, did not bat in the practice session on Thursday.

Ten Doeschate was confident Pant will reprise his usual roles in front of the stumps with the bat and behind them with the keeper’s gloves in Manchester.

“Look, I don’t think you’re going to keep Rishabh out of the test no matter what,” former Dutch international ten Doeschate said.

“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.”

First Published: 

Jul 18, 2025 12:37 PM

IST