Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Test future under discussion as BCCI looks to send injury replacements to England – Report

After Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan joined Shubman Gill in India’s injury list on the England tour, the Board of Control for Cricket is finally contemplating sending a replacement for the five-match Test series.

The Indian selectors had picked a 24-man squad for England, which is now down to 21 players after injuries to these three players.

Washington suffered a chronic finger injury after he was hit by Mohammed Siraj’s bumper as he was playing for County Select XI against the Indians on Wednesday. Furthermore, Avesh Khan has been ruled out of the entire series with a fracture in left thumb.

Moreover, Shubman Gill has also returned back to home though there has been no official update from the BCCI on his injury. In fact, the team management had earlier asked for Shubman Gill’s replacement but the BCCI and the selectors had denied that request.

Meanwhile, it has been reported by Times of India that the Indian board is having a discussion with Bhuvneshwar Kumar regarding his Test future. Earlier it was reported that the swing bowler from Uttar Pradesh doesn’t want to play Test cricket but he had later squashed those reports.

On the other hand, a lot of cricket experts like Sunil Gavaskar and Aakash Chopra had stated that Bhuvneshwar Kumar would have been handy in the English conditions in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand but he was not picked due to his fitness issues.

“We will see if replacements are needed to be sent to England immediately,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by TOI on Thursday.

“There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. Travel restrictions is one such thing. If players are indeed sent then it will be from the batch that is in Sri Lanka at the moment. Sri Lanka is also on the ‘Red List’ for the UK government. The board is figuring out logistical challenges before taking a call. A bubble-to-bubble transfer isn’t possible. Selectors will decide how many players are needed to be sent if need arises. If Sri Lanka is moved to the ‘Amber List next week, then things will get easier,” the official added.

The first Test match between England and India will take place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from August 4.