Indian cricket captain Gill views Bumrah's participation in England's final as a significant advantage for India.
India-England Series: Bumrah Misses Out at The Oval, Pant Sidelined Due to Injury
The final Test of the series between India and England, scheduled to begin at The Oval on Thursday, will be played without the top-ranked Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian pacer, who has been a key figure in the series so far, will be missing due to workload management and the need for recovery, rather than a fresh injury.
Bumrah bowled a demanding 33 overs in the fourth Test, a performance that left little time for recovery before the Oval Test, given the short break between the matches. His pace dropped towards the end, and with a history of back injuries, the team management and BCCI medical staff decided to rest him.
India is likely to field Arshdeep Singh, who is close to making his Test debut, as Bumrah’s replacement in the playing XI. The team will have to make at least one change due to the injury of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who has been ruled out of the series due to a broken foot.
Pant, who batted with a broken foot during the series, left the field on a buggy on the opening day of the series at Old Trafford. He returned less than 24 hours later, making 17 further runs before he was out for 54 in India's first-innings 358.
Meanwhile, in the fourth Test, both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja scored their respective hundreds. The duo batted out the final two sessions, helping India bat out five sessions and 143 overs in Manchester. Jadeja was the first to capitalize on the 'buffet bowling', followed by Sundar who scored his maiden Test hundred.
Gautam Gambhir, India's coach, praised Pant for his character and contributions to the team. He also expressed his belief that if an English player was on 90 or 85, they would have allowed him to get a first Test hundred.
Despite Bumrah's absence, India will aim to end the series all square at 2-2. The team will be looking to put up a strong fight at The Oval and end the series on a high note.
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The upcoming Test at The Oval will see India missing their top-ranked Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah due to workload management, leaving room for Arshdeep Singh to potentially make his Test debut. Concurrently, the team is also managing an injury to wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who has been ruled out of the series, affecting the Indian squad's sports roster. [Link to Source 1] [Link to Source 2] [Link to Source 3] [Link to Source 4]
