Jasprit Bumrah ‘fit’ for Oval Test; final decision depends on his workload

Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who addressed the media on Tuesday, July 29, ahead of the fifth and final Test, has confirmed that the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is fit, but his workload would be assessed before his inclusion in the playing XI.

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Notably, as revealed by the chief selector Ajit Agarkar at the time of the squad selection, Bumrah is supposed to play only three out of the five Tests on the England tour. Interestingly, the seamer has already played three Tests on the tour.

"There has been no discussion yet regarding Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion. He is fit at the moment. Based on his workload - he bowled only one innings in the last match - the head coach, physio and captain will consult and make a decision,” Kotak told the media.

While Bumrah started off the series with exceptional accuracy, scalping two five-wicket hauls at Headingly and Lord’s respectively, his pace dramatically dropped in the Manchester Test. Interestingly, India got to bowl only in one innings in Manchester as the game ended in a draw without England batters coming out to bat in the fourth innings.

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Nevertheless, Bumrah has scalped 14 wickets on the England tour at an average of 26 and an economy rate of 3.04, emerging as India’s go-to bowler during the challenging phases of the tour.

Interestingly, captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have also confirmed that the Indian seamer is medically fit and the final decision on his inclusion in the XI will be taken later.

"If he feels fully fit and available, it would be a big boost for us," said Shubman Gill on BBC's Test Match Special.

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It’s important to note that Bumrah has missed only one Test on this tour, which India won by 336 runs. That said, India will take on England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval in London, scheduled to start on Thursday, July 31.

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