Jasprit Bumrah has been released from the India squad ahead of the fourth Test against England at Ranchi in an attempt to manage the fast bowler’s workload.
Wicketkeeper KL Rahul has also been ruled out as he continues to recover from the quad injury which kept him out of the second and third Tests, while his participation in the fifth Test at Dharamsala is also in doubt.
The BCCI are taking every precaution with Bumrah given his history of injury struggles, including a stress fracture. His absence will be a significant blow to the hosts. Bumrah has taken 16 wickets at 13.64 in the series so far, and recently ascended to the No.1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings for the first time.
“The decision was taken keeping in mind the duration of the series and amount of cricket he has played in recent times,” a statement read. Bumrah did not fly with the squad to Ranchi, while it has long been reported that India were considering resting him at some point in the series.
Mukesh Kumar, released from the India squad before the third Test, has been recalled. The right-armer impressed with a career-best ten-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy in the interim.
Bumrah at his very best!#INDvENGpic.twitter.com/hrn7ZQk9pM
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 3, 2024
Akash Deep and Mohammad Siraj are the other seam bowlers in the squad, while Axar Patel could also be selected if India wish to rejig the balance of their XI.
India’s updated squad for the fourth Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
