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TEAM INDIA NEWS
Jasprit Bumrah has already bowled 58 overs in the series so far © BCCI/IPL
The national selection committee is scheduled to meet in the next 24 hours to finalize the squad for the remaining three Tests against England, with management of Jasprit Bumrah’s workload taking priority. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, barring unforeseen circumstances that may require a postponement until Friday due to the unavailability of key personnel.
Central to the committee’s deliberations is the strategic management of the extensive and excessive bowling workload of Bumrah, who has already bowled close to 58 overs (second only to R Ashwin, who has bowled close to 80 overs) in the two first tests. The prevailing idea is to use the 30-year-old player wisely, as this website recently reported, recognizing his indispensable role within the team. However, the selection committee and the team management also recognize Bumrah’s status as the leading wicket-taker of the series, which was expected to be dominated by spinners.
Bumrah’s exceptional performance, with 15 wickets at a remarkable average of just over 10, underlines his vital role in the Indian bowling line-up. Ashwin, the second most successful bowler for the Indian side, has taken just nine wickets.
In initial discussions, resting Bumrah for the third Test and fielding Mohammed Siraj as a replacement seemed plausible, but subsequent deliberations between key figures such as captain Rohit Sharma, coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar appear to have led to a new decision. evaluation of this decision.
The consensus now leans towards retaining Bumrah, recognizing his need, especially in Rajkot, where the pitch historically favors speed over spin. As vice-captain of the team, Bumrah is aware of his responsibilities and the importance of securing victories in the context of World Test Championship (WTC) qualification. The final verdict on Bumrah’s participation will be out when the team is announced, and the pacer himself will be part of the deliberations and decision.
Meanwhile, promising updates seem to have emerged from the National Cricket Academy regarding the recovery progress of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, who missed the second Test in Visakhapatnam for various reasons. Rahul’s return to the team seems imminent, while Jadeja’s possible inclusion depends on the team management’s assessment of his hamstring injury.
However, both players are expected to be part of the next team, which will notably be without Virat Kohli, who was absent for the entire five-Test series due to a family emergency.
© Cricbuzz