Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play the 5th Test against England at the Kennington Oval in London. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI medical team has informed the bowler that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back.
Before India reached England, the medical team had decided that Bumrah should play only three Test matches on this tour. The selectors and the bowler himself were made aware of the decision. Hence, Bumrah played the first Test and missed the second one. He featured in the third and fourth Test.
He didn’t bowl in the fourth Test since the morning of the fourth day, and there has been a three-day break between the upcoming Test. It looked like India might include Bumrah in the playing 11 for the last Test.
However, playing two back-to-back matches has already taken a toll on Bumrah’s body. In the first innings of the fourth Test, Bumrah bowled a total of 33 overs, the most that he has bowled in an innings since 2021.
He gave away 112 runs and took two wickets. It was also the first time Bumrah gave away more than 100 runs in an innings in his career. The number of balls he bowled above 140kph has significantly reduced from 42.7% in the first Test to 22.3% in the third Test to just 0.5% in the fourth Test.
Who will Replace Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Playing 11 in the 5th Test?
Bumrah is the joint-highest wicket-taker for India in the series and has picked 14 wickets in five innings at an average of 26. Akash Deep, who replaced Bumrah in the second Test, is likely to make a comeback in the playing 11. He has taken 11 wickets in two games in the series at an average of 28.09.
Akash missed the previous Test with a groin niggle but has recovered completely. He took a 10-wicket haul in the second Test but managed to pick a single wicket in the third Test.
In the absence of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj will lead India’s pace attack. He has taken 14 wickets in four games at an average of 39.71. He is the only bowler who has played all four matches on the tour. He has bowled 139 overs in the series and no other Indian bowler has bowled more than him.
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