"Jasprit Bumrah is fine physically" - Vikram Rathour namedrops IPL as he reveals reason behind pacer's absence from 4th Test
Published - 22 Feb 2024, 04:41 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:27 AM
Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour explained the reason behind Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence from the upcoming fourth Test against England. Vikram Rathour mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah had no fitness issues and performed well in the first three matches.
On February 20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul will not participate in the upcoming match, which is set to be played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, starting on Friday, February 23.
Bumrah led the Indian pace bowling attack in the first three matches against the Ben Stokes-led side. The right-arm pacer emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series. He has bowled a total of 80.5 overs and picked up 17 wickets at an average of 13.65.
Every Test Match Is Crucial – Vikram Rathour
In the pre-match press conference, Vikram Rathour emphasized the significance of every Test match, particularly regarding the World Test Championship points. He acknowledged the need to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, considering his efforts in previous games.
“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,” Rathour said.
“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,” he added.
With Jasprit Bumrah sidelined, Mohammad Siraj will lead the pace attack for the host team. The Hyderabad-born pacer showcased his talent by taking a four-wicket haul in the first innings of the third Test.
The Indian cricket team climbed the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table after a 434-run victory in the third Test. The Rohit Sharma-led side currently holds the second position with a points percentage of 60 in the WTC table, trailing behind New Zealand.
Felt That Jasprit Bumrah Should Get A Break – Vikram Rathour
Vikram Rathour mentioned that, given the packed schedule ahead, the team management agreed to grant Jasprit Bumrah a break, despite his good physical condition. The decision was prompted by the limited turnaround time between matches.
“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,” Vikram Rathour added.
India is set to face England in the fourth Test at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, starting February 23. Despite leading 2-1 in the series, India will miss key players Bumrah and Rahul. Virat Kohli has already opted out of the series due to personal reasons.
England has finalized their playing XI for the fourth Test, making two alterations from the previous match in Rajkot. Pacer Ollie Robinson and emerging off-spinner Shoaib Bashir have been brought in, replacing Rehan Ahmed and Mark Wood, respectively.
