Rishabh Pant may continue as wicketkeeper in the fourth Test against England after easing concerns over his injury.
Speculation had been swirling over Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the Old Trafford Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. But Mohammed Siraj has put those doubts to rest, confirming that Bumrah will feature against England.
Speaking on Monday, a day before the Manchester Test begins, Siraj addressed questions about India’s injury-hit pace attack, saying,
“As of now, we only know that Jassi (Bumrah) bhai will play.”
Bumrah’s selection had drawn attention because India have been resting him at intervals as part of workload management. While he played the first and third Tests, he was rested for the second.
On India’s last tour of Australia, Bumrah played all five Tests but picked up an injury in the final match, which kept him sidelined for a long spell. Since then, India have carefully managed the workload of their premier pacer.
This England series has brought fresh injury worries for India. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who played two Tests, has been ruled out of the series with a knee injury.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh will also miss the next match after suffering a thumb injury in the nets. There are doubts over Akash Deep too, who left the field during the Lord’s Test with discomfort, reportedly due to a groin strain.
To strengthen the pace unit, India have called up Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj, who impressed with India A against England Lions before the series began.
With Nitish out, Sai Sudharsan may return to the XI after playing only the first Test, where he scored 0 and 30. If included, India could drop spinner Washington Sundar and bring back seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
If Akash Deep is unavailable, Prasidh Krishna might slot in as the third seamer alongside Bumrah and Siraj — he featured in the first two Tests.
Rishabh Pant injured his left index finger in the third Test. India had considered playing him purely as a batter at Old Trafford, with Dhruv Jurel taking the gloves.
However, on Monday, Pant was seen comfortably keeping wickets and batting in the nets — a positive sign that eased concerns over his fitness behind the stumps.
India trail the five-match series 2-1. After losing the first Test, they bounced back with a dominant win in the second, only to be edged out in a thrilling contest at Lord’s, allowing England to reclaim the lead.
