Jasprit Bumrah's retirement blocked! India coach gives update on Oval Test availability

India National Cricket Team batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has issued an official update on the availability of the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the fifth Test against the England National Cricket Team.

England will host India in the fifth and final Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at the Kennington Oval in London from July 31.

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But we will take a call on his workload soon - Sitanshu Kotak

Jasprit Bumrah is the joint-highest wicket-taker for the India National Cricket Team in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, and overall, he is just behind the English skipper Ben Stokes.

Bumrah has played three out of four matches so far in the series and has picked up 14 wickets at an average of 26. His pace-bowling partner Mohammed Siraj has also bagged 14 wickets but at an average of 39.71.

Heading into the series, Jasprit Bumrah had made himself available only for three Tests to manage his workload and has already completed his goal.

However, with the series on the line, there have been calls to make Jasprit Bumrah feature in the Oval Test. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said that the pace spearhead is fit, but they haven't made any decision on his participation. He said:

"No discussion on Jasprit Bumrah yet, he is fit. But we will take a call on his workload soon."

Sitanshu Kotak: No discussion on Jasprit Bumrah yet, he is fit. But we will take a call on his workload soon.

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) July 29, 2025

Jasprit Bumrah's Test retirement blocked

Bumrah faced some fitness issues during the Manchester Test match against England, and his speeds also went significantly down. This led to many experts, including Mohammad Kaif, stating that the pacer is nearing his Test retirement.

However, Aakash Chopra is totally against Bumrah retiring from Test cricket. In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra was asked whether Bumrah should retire from Tests.

He responded that everyone should make peace with the fact that the pacer will not play all the matches for the country, and he should be given the privilege to pick and choose matches. Aakash Chopra said:

"It had been decided before the start of the series that Bumrah would play only three Tests, and if he plays three only, and doesn't even take the risk of playing the fourth one, knowing fully well that there is no cricket for the next one month, it's true that his participation will remain limited.

"With Jasprit Bumrah, it is going to be pick and choose, which is absolutely fine. I feel he should play until he can play. If there is a four-match series in India, it shouldn't be that he doesn't play even one because he can't play all four. It is not right. The kind of bowler Bumrah is, if he gives me two out of four Tests, I will still be okay with the fact that he is giving two," he added.

So I am not in that camp that says he should retire - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further labelled Jasprit Bumrah as the once-in-a-generation player and said that the pacer shouldn't think about his retirement.

"We will try to manage his workload because there are a few once-in-a-generation players who you want to manage, who you want to handle properly.

"Everyone should be handled properly, but he is an extremely special player. So I am not in that camp that says he should retire if he can't play all five Tests," he said.