India’s hopes of squaring the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy have taken a massive hit with premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah set to miss the fifth and final Test at The Oval. The decision, confirmed by ESPNcricinfo, comes as part of the BCCI’s cautious workload management approach to protect Bumrah’s long-term fitness.
Workload to be Bumrah’s priority
For those tracking his journey this series, this move isn’t entirely unexpected. Bumrah had already committed to playing only three of the five Tests during the England tour. It was a plan devised jointly by the medical team, selectors, and team management.
Having featured in Leeds, Lord’s, and Manchester (while sitting out Edgbaston), the pacer has reached his pre-set limit. Head coach Gautam Gambhir also previously stated that irrespective of the situation in the series, Bumrah’s priority will be his workload management.
The BCCI’s medical staff have been wary ever since Bumrah’s back troubles resurfaced after his injury earlier this year. The 31-year-old has been advised to bowl only 45-50 overs per Test. While he stayed within that range of 33 overs in Manchester, 43 at Lord’s, and 43.4 in Leeds, the cumulative load coupled with the three-day turnaround between Tests has put Bumrah’s workload in the red zone.
Adding to the concern was a noticeable dip in Bumrah’s pace in the fourth Test. Data revealed that his deliveries above 140kph plunged from 42.7% at Headingley to a mere 0.5% in Manchester. It was evident that fatigue was catching up, and despite his 14 wickets in the series, joint second-highest, India have chosen preservation over short-term gain.
Akash Deep to replace Bumrah
At India’s optional training session on Tuesday, Akash Deep bowled with intensity, having starred with a ten-wicket haul in Edgbaston earlier in the series. Fully recovered from a groin niggle, he is tipped to replace Bumrah and partner Mohammed Siraj, who has himself carried a heavy workload across four Tests.
The absence of Bumrah weakens India’s bowling firepower and gives England an advantage. With Rishabh Pant already ruled out and Dhruv Jurel stepping in, India may prefer retaining Shardul Thakur for batting depth, potentially leaving Kuldeep Yadav out once again. With England 2-1 ahead, India now face a daunting task in The Oval Test without the world’s best bowler.
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