“If he is not playing…” - Shubman Gill opens up on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for fifth Test

The newly appointed Indian Test captain, Shubman Gill, has revealed that it would be a great deal for the visitors if the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah were fit and available for selection for the fifth and final Test at Kennington Oval in London.

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Ahead of the start of the tour, the BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, had informed that Bumrah would be available for three out of five Tests on the England tour to manage his workload. Interestingly, Bumrah had already played three games on the tour.

However, Gill asserted that if Bumrah is fit enough ahead of the opening day of the fifth Test, he would be available for selection in the playing XI. It’s important to note that Bumrah could scalp only two wickets, conceding 112 runs in the Manchester Test in 33 overs.

"If he feels like he's fully fit and available for us, I think it would be a great deal for us. If he's not playing, I still think we have the right kind of bowling attack. Akash Deep is available for the last Test, so we will have a bowling attack that could take 20 wickets for us,” Shubman Gill told BBC Sport.

Moreover, India will be without their vice-captain and keeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been ruled out of the fifth Test due to a fractured foot after sustaining an injury to his toe while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes.

"Rishabh, already it's been declared that he's out of this series. The character and the foundation of this team will be built on what Rishabh did for the team and the country. Any amount of praise is not enough for him, especially batting with a broken foot,” Gautam Gambhir told reporters after the Manchester Test.

The fifth and final Test will commence on Thursday, July 31.

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