Bumrah likely to be rested for fourth Test against England, fit-again Rahul set to be back

RAJKOT: Lead India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested, while batter K L Rahul is expected to come back after recovering from a quadriceps injury, in the fourth Test against England beginning February 23 in Ranchi.

Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in the five-match series with 17 scalps and singlehandedly bowled India to victory in the second Test. The host leads 2-1 in the five-match rubber.

“The team will travel to Ranchi tomorrow (Tuesday) and Bumrah is likely to be given rest,” said a BCCI source while also informing that Rahul is nearing full fitness and should be a part of the squad in Ranchi. The decision to rest Bumrah doesn’t come as a surprise considering he bowled 80.5 overs in the first three Tests.

As part of workload management, India had also rested Mohammed Siraj from the second Test in Visakhapatnam before he returned to play a part in India’s record 434-run win over the visitor in Rajkot on Sunday. India is well-placed to seal the series in Ranchi but if it is not able to, the home team will desperately need the services of Bumrah for the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala beginning March 7.

Rahul, who missed the second and third Test after complaining of pain in his right quadriceps, had reached 90 per cent fitness last week, according to an insider.

“He is reaching his match fitness and should be available for Ranchi Test,” the source added.

Rahul was among India’s best batters in the opening Test in Hyderabad before going down with the same injury that he suffered during the IPL last year.

Since his comeback after four months on the sidelines, the batter has delivered for India across formats. He was the only centurion for India in the drawn two-Test series in South Africa in December.