Will Jasprit Bumrah play Manchester Test? Experts give their opinion

Overview

• Jasprit Bumrah has played two of the three Tests he was scheduled to be a part of in the series against England
• The World No. 1 Test bowler might play only one of the Manchester and The Oval Tests
• Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan gave their opinion on Bumrah's availability for the remainder of the series

Jasprit Bumrah took part in the Headingley and the Lord's Tests, two of the three Tests he was scheduled to play in the series between India and England. The right-arm pacer is likely to play only one of the Manchester and the Oval Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. When asked about his participation in Old Trafford, Shubman Gill claimed it would be announced soon.

India currently trails 1-2 in the series against England and is in a must-win situation in the fourth Test. Speaking about the importance of the Old Trafford Test and hence Bumrah's availability, Anil Kumble felt he would personally play Bumrah in both of the upcoming Tests. He noted the long break available for the fourth Test and felt there was no need for the Indian pacer to play at home either.

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"I would certainly, if I’m part of that group, push Bumrah to play the next game. That’s crucial. If he doesn’t play and then we lose the Test, that’s it—the series is done and dusted. I think Bumrah should play both the remaining Tests. I know he’s said he’s going to play only three, but there’s a long break after this. He doesn’t have to play the home series—he can take a break if needed. But I believe he should be out there for the next two," Anil Kumble said on JioHotstar after the Lord's Test.

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"In conditions like these, Bumrah’s presence adds a lot of value" - Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan, who was in the JioHotstar panel, agreed with him and claimed it to be the biggest series of five matches in the upcoming cycle for India. Pathan felt a change in the team was not ideal and voted in favor of Bumrah playing the upcoming Test.

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"This is the biggest five-match series that you would play abroad in this World Test Championship cycle, and in such a crunch situation, changing too much isn’t ideal—neither for the management nor for the fellow bowlers. In conditions like these, Bumrah’s presence adds a lot of value," Irfan Pathan said.