Having suffered a thumb injury during the T20I series against Ireland in June, India speedster Jasprit Bumrah was unable to take part in last month’s limited-overs series against England. Although Bumrah was picked in the India squad for the first three Tests against England, he couldn’t clear the fitness hurdle in the first two Tests that India lost by 31 runs and an innings and 159 runs.   

With five-Test series at stake, India received a boost on Tuesday (August 14) as Bumrah was deemed fit and available for selection for the third Test, starting on Saturday (August 18) in Nottingham.

As per the reports in PTI, Bumrah has been keenly working in the nets throughout the second leg of this tour. He was not considered for selection in the first two Tests because the team management was waiting for the plaster to come off finally.

During one of the net sessions when the rain intervened at Lord’s, Bumrah was seen bowling without his plaster and thus his availability for the next match has now been confirmed. However, it remains to be seen whether he will be drafted in the playing eleven without any practice match.

In other good news, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya have also been declared fit for the third Test. Both were hit in their bowling hands while batting in the second innings of Lord’s Test.

Meanwhile, skipper Virat Kohli is in a race against time to regain his full fitness for the Trent Bridge Test. Kohli had to miss the on-field action for a few overs during the third and fourth day’s play at Lord’s due to a stiff back. The Indian captain, however, had confirmed his availability albeit with the proviso that he might not be able to field or run between the wickets up to a 100 percent.

Reports suggest that Kohli took part in the gym session on Tuesday. He is also undergoing rehabilitation to improve his chances of attaining total fitness.

(With PTI inputs)