With only a four-day gap between the third and the fourth Tests against England, and keeping in line with the Indian team’s management’s workload management program, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is most likely to be rested for the penultimate game in Ranchi, starting February 27.
India will head into the fourth Test with a 2-1 lead in the five-match gig after recording a thumping 434-run win at Rajkot, and could most likely rest Bumrah for the game. In the second Test in Visakhapatnam, India had rested seamer Mohammed Siraj after his long and continuous run across formats.
The 30-year-old Bumrah turned the Vizag Test in India’s favour with nine wickets, including a brilliant six-wicket haul in the first essay during an eventual 106-run win to help India draw level in the series. The right-arm pacer has so far bowled 80.5 overs in the series, snapping up 17 wickets at an average of 13.65.
With the Ranchi wicket traditionally assisting the slower bowlers, the pacer could be replaced with an additional spinner in left-armer Axar Patel or off-spinner Washington Sundar, and if the hosts wish to opt for a seam-for-seam replacement, Bengal boys Mukesh Kumar or Akash Deep could fill in with Siraj leading the pack.
Mukesh, who featured in the Vizag Test was far from impressive during the outing, and managed to pick a solitary wicket at the cost of 70 runs, before subsequently being released for Bengal’s last Ranji Trophy league match. On return to domestic cricket, the 30-year-old recorded his maiden First-Class ten-wicket match haul (10/50), including career-best figures of six for 32 against Bihar.
Meanwhile, Mukesh’s state teammate Akash Deep, who was picked in the squad for the last three Test matches, was impressive in his two red-ball outings for India A against the touring England Lions, finishing with 10 wickets. With 104 FC wickets in his kitty, the 27-year-old could be in line for a Test debut should India opt for a two-pacer attack in Ranchi.
Fit-again KL Rahul expected to return
KL Rahul is set to return to the middle-order for the fourth Test, after missing the Visakhapatnam and Rajkot matches due to quadriceps and knee issues. “He seems to be good,” India skipper Rohit Sharma said on Sunday.
Rahul, who was on course to return for the Rajkot game, was eventually rested to attain full match fitness, as he was only ‘90 percent fit’, as per a BCCI medical bulletin. In the case of Rahul returning to the XI in Ranchi, Rajat Patidar, who hasn’t managed to score big in the two games, might have to make way.
Rahul was among India’s best batters in the opening Test that India lost by 28 runs in Hyderabad before going down with the same injury that he suffered during the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year. Ever since his comeback after four months on the sidelines, the batter has delivered for India across formats.