As the action shifts to Manchester for the fourth Test between India and England, JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble and India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate weighed in on team selection and shared updates on player injuries on JioHotstar’s show, Follow The Blues. From Jasprit Bumrah’s availability and Mohammed Siraj’s fitness to Rishabh Pant’s recovery timeline, the duo also offered insights into the team’s mindset and planning as the series enters its final leg.
Speaking on ‘Follow The Blues’, JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble weighed in on the importance of Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the remainder of the Test series:
“I would certainly push for Bumrah to play the next game because that’s crucial. If he doesn’t play and India end up losing the Test, that’s it, the series would be done and dusted. Bumrah should feature in both the remaining Tests. Yes, he mentioned earlier that he would only play three matches, but there is a long break after this. He does not need to be part of the home series if he wants rest. But right now, Bumrah should be playing the next two.”
Speaking on JioHotstar show, ‘Follow The Blues’, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate shared his thoughts on the team’s decision-making process regarding Bumrah’s availability for the final two Tests of the series:
“We will make that call about Bumrah in Manchester. We know we have got him available for one of the last two Tests, and it is pretty obvious that with the series on the line in Manchester, that’s where we are leaning towards playing him. But again, we have got to consider all the factors, how many days of cricket we are likely to get there, what we feel gives us the best chance of winning, and then how that fits in with the game at The Oval. We are looking at the last two matches holistically, as part of the larger series picture.”
*Ryan ten Doeschate praised Mohammed Siraj’s fighting spirit and provided an update on his fitness ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester:*
“We sometimes take for granted just how lucky we are to have someone like Siraj in the team. He may not always deliver the kind of returns you would expect from a fast bowler, but in terms of heart, he is like a lion. Whenever he has the ball in hand, you always feel like something’s about to happen. He never shies away from the workload, which is why it is even more important that we manage his workload properly and ensure he is fit enough to give his best. We will take a call on the final playing combination closer to the Manchester Test, especially keeping in mind the Harshit Rana situation as well. As for Siraj, he did take a blow while bowling, he spotted a ball coming towards him and tried to stop it. It is just a cut, but we will have to assess how bad it is. The medical team will take him to a doctor, and whether or not he requires stitches will play a part in our planning over the next few days.”
*On Pant’s fitness and Dhruv Jurel’s anticipated role in the lead-up to the fourth Test:*
“He will bat in Manchester before the Test. I don’t think anything is going to keep Rishabh out of the match, no matter what. He batted through quite a lot of pain during the third Test, and from here on, it is only going to get easier in terms of the discomfort in his finger. Wicket-keeping is obviously the final stage of the recovery process; we need to ensure that he can keep comfortably. We don’t want a repeat of what happened earlier, where we had to replace the keeper mid-innings. Pant has been given an adequate amount of rest, and we are just trying to give his finger as much time as possible to heal. Hopefully, he’ll be good to go in Manchester by the first training session. Dhruv Jurel is definitely in the equation. But obviously, Rishabh is fatigued. That said, he will play the next Test and do both — bat and keep wickets.”
*Catch Day 1 of the fourth Test of India’s tour of England, July 23, at 3:30 PM, live on JioHotstar*
