After winning the second Test in Visakhapatnam by 106 runs to tie the series at one, India will now be preparing to play England in the third Test of the current five-game series. The third match is scheduled to begin on February 15 at Rajkot’s Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
For the third match, Jasprit Bumrah—who shone in the second Test—is probably going to have a rest.
According to the most recent reports from Cricbuzz, the national selectors and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have discussed benching the star speedster so that he may rest and recover for the last two games. The selectors are going to look into alternative candidates who could replace Bumrah.
Bumrah demonstrated his skill by bowling over 32 overs in two innings, which helped India beat England in 253 and 292, respectively. Throughout the innings, the 30-year-old has taken nine wickets for a total of just 91 runs. Notably, he was able to win Player of the Match thanks to his outstanding performance.
Speaking of the first Test match in Hyderabad, where the team captained by Rohit Sharma experienced a dramatic defeat, losing by just 28 runs, Bumrah had proven his mettle there as well. During about twenty-five overs, the elite fast bowler claimed six wickets.
It is expected that Mohammed Siraj, who was rested for the Vizag Test, will play in the third game. In the Rajkot Test, the right-arm bowler is probably going to spearhead the pace attack. He then re-unites with Bumrah for the other two matches, which are scheduled for Ranchi and Dharamsala, respectively.
Mohammed Shami, the other pace option for India, is currently receiving treatment overseas for an ankle injury, so he is not healthy enough to make a comeback. In the meantime, there are doubts about the fitness of one of his generation’s top all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja. It’s also improbable that former India captain Virat Kohli, who missed the first two Test matches due to personal reasons, will be included in the squad for the third Test.
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