India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour has revealed that gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the fourth Test keeping workload in mind whereas KL Rahul is still to achieve 100% match fitness. Bumrah has sent down 80.5 overs in the first three Test matches and didn’t travel with the team to Ranchi.
The ace bowler is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series with 17 scalps in three matches at an average of 13.65. Bumrah had returned with match-winning figures of 9-91 in the second Test match at Vizag.
Moreover, Mukesh Kumar, who was released ahead of the third Test match, was added back to the Test squad.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Vikram Rathour said, “I think every Test match is crucial, to be honest. With WTC points, every game is crucial. Even we would love Bumrah to play all the games. But unfortunately, that is not very advisable because of the workload he has had in the last three games. He has bowled well and with a lot of heart, a lot of effort.
“For the kind of schedule we have in the future, with IPL and all, it was felt by everybody involved that he should be given a break. Otherwise, he is fine physically. But it was felt that he should get a break because there was hardly any turnaround time between the games,” the former Indian opener added.
Commenting on KL Rahul’s fitness, Rathour said, “I don’t know about the percentage but as far as I am concerned, it’s either fit or unfit. As of now, he is unfit. BCCI’s medical team will be in a better position to know about the injury.”
Rahul had scored 86 runs in the first innings at Hyderabad but was ruled out with a quadriceps injury.
India and England will next take on each other at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi in the fourth Test match from Friday.
India squad for the 4th Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
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