On Tuesday, February 20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement, announcing that the premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been released from the squad for the fourth Test match of the ongoing five-match Test series against Ben Stokes-led England National Cricket Team.
Bumrah has been the best performer for India National Cricket Team in the ongoing series in the bowling department. With his bowling masterclass, he has taken the pitch out of the equation and bagged 17 wickets in 3 matches. The right-arm quick has picked up his wickets at an average of 13.64.
He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the series and he also won the Player of the Match award in the second Test as he dismantled the England National Cricket Team batting unit in both innings of the match.
The reason given behind the release of Bumrah from the squad has been termed as workload management by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“Jasprit Bumrah has been released from the squad for the 4th IDFC First Bank Test against England in Ranchi. The decision was taken keeping in mind the duration of the series and the amount of cricket he has played in recent times,” the BCCI stated.
Along with Jasprit Bumrah, India to miss KL Rahul in the 4th Test
India will also be missing the services of the 31-year-old batsman KL Rahul in the fourth Test as he has been ruled out of the match. Also, the board has mentioned that the participation of Rahul in the fifth Test is subject to fitness.
Rahul had earlier missed the second Test due to a quadricep injury and the BCCI had informed that the batsman had reached 90 percent of match fitness. He was further ruled out of the third Test due to a sore knee. To replace Rahul in the squad, Devdutt Padikkal was handed his maiden Test call-up.
In other news, the right-arm pacer Mukesh Kumar has rejoined the team after being released for the third Test in Rajkot.
“KL Rahul is ruled out of the 4th Test. His participation in the final Test match in Dharamsala is subject to fitness. Mukesh Kumar, who was released from the squad for the third Test in Rajkot, has joined the squad in Ranchi,” the BCCI added.
The absence of KL Rahul is a big blow for India as he looked in terrific touch with the bat in the first Test in Hyderabad. He scored 86 & 22 runs in the match. In Rahul’s absence, Rajat Patidar might be retained despite his failures or there is a possibility of Devdutt Padikkal making his India Test debut.
India are currently leading by 2-1 and the high-octane fourth Test match will be played from February 23 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.
India’s updated squad for the 4th Test: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
