Jasprit Bumrah's Potential Return Sparks Hope for Team India in Fourth Test Against England
Bumrah's Role in the Upcoming Test
Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach for Team India, has discussed the possibility of pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah participating in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, scheduled for July 23.
Currently, India is behind in the series, trailing 1-2 after a narrow 22-run loss in the previous Test at Lord's. Bumrah's presence is increasingly vital as the team seeks to level the series. In the first Test at Headingley, he took five wickets in the first innings but failed to secure any in the second, contributing to a five-wicket defeat.
Following the loss at Headingley, Bumrah was rested for the historic 336-run victory at Edgbaston, but he returned to form at Lord's, taking seven wickets, including another five-wicket haul. However, there has been some uncertainty regarding his availability for the upcoming match, as the selectors had initially planned for him to play only three Tests in the series.
Hints of Bumrah's Inclusion
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Bumrah's participation, Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at a favorable decision regarding his inclusion for the crucial match in Manchester.
During a training session at Beckenham, he mentioned that the team is likely to consider playing Bumrah, especially given the stakes after the loss at Lord's. The final decision will be made in Manchester.
"We’ll make that call in Manchester. We know we’ve got him for one of the last two Tests. I think it’s pretty obvious the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him," stated Ryan ten Doeschate.
#RyantenDoeschate takes on the BIG QUESTION! 👀Will #JaspritBumrah play the 4th Test in Manchester? 🤔#ENGvIND | 4th Test starts WED, 23rd JULY, 2:30 PM | Streaming on JioHotstar!
Managing Bumrah's Workload
The selectors and management had previously decided to limit Bumrah's bowling to prevent injuries during this critical series. This decision came after he faced heavy workloads during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which led to a back injury in the Sydney Test, sidelining him for three months before his return in IPL 2025.
In the ongoing series against England, Bumrah has bowled a total of 86.4 overs, claiming 12 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, with an impressive average of 21.00 across four innings.
India's Struggles at Old Trafford
Historically, Team India has struggled at Old Trafford, having not won a single Test in their last nine appearances at this venue. Their first Test match there was in 1936, and since then, they have played nine matches, recording four losses and five draws, with their last match occurring in 2014.
The fifth Test originally scheduled for 2021 was postponed to July 2022 at Edgbaston due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Indian camp. Old Trafford remains the only venue in England where India has yet to secure a Test victory. Earlier in the series, Shubman Gill's team ended a 58-year winless streak at Edgbaston.
With the series hanging in the balance and Old Trafford being a challenging venue for India, Bumrah's inclusion could be the key factor needed to turn the tide and keep India competitive in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.