NEW DELHI: With the Test series between India and England delicately poised at 2-1 in favour of the hosts, all eyes are on whether pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be in the XI for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. Former India cricketer Suresh Raina weighed in on the burning question, hailing Bumrah as a “legend” while stressing that the final decision rests with the medical team.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to ANI during the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham, Raina said, “I think it is a doctor’s call, to be very honest. I know my body. I know my doctor. I know what guidelines he is giving me, how to play the game. With Bumrah, he is a legend. He knows his body. He knows his workload.”
Bumrah, who has taken 12 wickets in two Tests in the series — including a five-wicket haul at Lord’s — was rested for the second Test as part of workload management. His inclusion could be pivotal in India’s bid to level the series.“A little rest is important for Bumrah, especially after returning from such a long injury,” Raina added. “But if they want to win or draw the series, then both Bumrah and [Rishabh] Pant will be key in the fourth Test.”
Poll
Should Jasprit Bumrah play in the fourth Test against England?
Pant, India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series with 425 runs at an average of 70.83, suffered a finger injury at Lord’s but continued to bat. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed the team’s intent to assess both players closer to the match.“We’ll make that call in Manchester,” Ten Doeschate said. “We know we’ve got Bumrah for one of the last two Tests. With the series on the line, there’s a leaning towards playing him.”
On Pant, he said: “I don’t think you’re going to keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with pain, and it’s only going to get better.”India face a selection dilemma, but with the series hanging in balance, expect tough calls to define the Manchester showdown starting July 23.
