Image Credit- BCCI
In order to decide on the playing eleven for the
remaining three Test matches against England, the national selection committee
will meet in the coming 24 hours. In the meantime, Jasprit Bumrah’s workload
will be managed. If there are no unanticipated situations that need a
postponement to Friday due to the unavailability of key persons, the meeting is
set for Thursday.
The committee’s main concern is how to strategically
manage Bumrah’s heavy bowling workload. In the first two Tests, he has already
bowled about 58 overs, second only to R Ashwin (who has bowled nearly 80
overs). As this website recently revealed, there is a prevalent belief that the
30-year-old pacer should be used sparingly, given his vital role on the squad.
The management of the team and the selection committee have acknowledged
Bumrah’s position as the series’ top wicket-taker despite the expectation that
spinners would dominate.
With 15 wickets at an astonishing average of little
over 10, Bumrah’s outstanding performance highlights his crucial importance in
India’s bowling lineup. With only nine wickets to his name, Ashwin is the
second most successful bowler for the Indian team.
With 15 wickets at an astonishing average of little
over 10, Bumrah’s outstanding performance highlights his crucial importance in
India’s bowling lineup. With only nine wickets to his name, Ashwin is the
second most successful bowler for the Indian team.
The decision to rest Bumrah for the third Test and
substitute Mohammed Siraj appeared reasonable at first, but discussions with
important individuals such as captain Rohit Sharma, coach Rahul Dravid, and
chief selector Ajit Agarkar appear to have led to a reassessment of this
choice.
Now, most people agree that Bumrah should be kept on,
citing his importance particularly in Rajkot, where the pitch has traditionally
favoured pace over spin. Bumrah understands his role as the team’s vice captain
and the importance of winning in the context of qualifying for the World Test
Championship (WTC). The pacing himself is a party to the discussions and
decision about Bumrah’s participation, which will be made public at the squad
announcement.
In the meantime, encouraging news appears to have
surfaced from the National Cricket Academy concerning the recuperation status
of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, who both missed the second Test in
Visakhapatnam for different reasons. Jadeja’s possible inclusion depends on how
the team management evaluates his hamstring issue, but Rahul’s comeback to the
side looks close.
Both players, though, are expected to be part of the
next team, which will be noticeably missing Virat Kohli, who has been out of
the team for the entire five-Test series because of a family issue.