The Indian team completed its final training session at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday in preparation for the third Test of the five-match series against England starting on Thursday. But vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah was nowhere to be seen. Bumrah missed training for the third time since the squad assembled in the city, aiming to take the lead against England for the first time in the tournament, amid rumors he could be rested for the match.
The selection issues that India have paid scant attention to in the run-up to the third Test involve finding a replacement for Shreyas Iyer, the form of wicket-keeper batsman KS Bharat and the fitness of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Among them, there are media reports that India is cautious about workload management as to whether Bumrah will be rested in the third Test.
There was a 9-day break between the second and third Test, perhaps enough time for the players to recover for the subsequent matches, which led to few people considering whether Bumrah would be considered for the move, and the fourth Test was more Good option to give the fast bowler a break as India need him for the series final in Dharamshala.
However, Bumrah was appointed vice-captain for the remainder of the Tests, taking the rather unusual position of not participating in any practice matches in Rajkot and it seemed likely that India would make him available against England in the third Test. Although Bumrah has joined the Indian team in Rajkot on Wednesday.
It would be a strange move if the team management chooses to rest Bumrah, who picked up nine wickets against England in the second Test match at Visakhapatnam, The hosts leveled the series at 1-1 after winning by 108 runs. Bumrah finished his best bowling performance with figures of 6 for 45 in the first innings at Vizag, his best ever at home and No. 1 overall. Three, in the process he even became the fastest Indian bowler to take 150 Test wickets.
