All eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah, as the Indian team will look to level the ongoing five-Test series against England, when the two teams clash in the 4th Test in Manchester from July 23 onwards. Bumrah, who will play only three Tests in the ongoing series, has already appeared in two matches.
He was part of the first Test in Leeds, taking a fifer, while India lost the game by 5 wickets. He sat out of the second Test at Edgbaston, which India won handsomely. Bumrah returned for the third Test at Lord’s, and took a fifer in the first innings, but India lost a close game on the final day.
Now, with more than a week’s gap between the Lord’s and Manchester Test, speculations are at an all-time high about Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the match, especially with India 1-2 down in the series.
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina, who is in England for the World Championship of Legends (WCL 2025), gave his thoughts on Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the fourth Test against England in Manchester.
“I think it is a doctor's call, to be very honest. I know my body. I know my doctor. I know what guidelines he is giving me and how to play the game. With Bumrah, he is a legend. He knows his body. He knows his workload,” Raina told ANI.
“A little rest is important for Bumrah, especially after returning from such a long injury. But if they want to win or draw the series, then both Bumrah and [Rishabh] Pant will be key in the fourth Test,” Raina added.
Pant, India's second-highest run-scorer in the series (425 runs at an average of 70.83), sustained a finger injury at Lord's but proceeded to bat. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate indicated that the squad intends to analyze both players closer to the match.
“We'll make that call in Manchester. We know we've got Bumrah for one of the last two Tests. With the series on the line, there's a leaning towards playing him,” Doeschate told reporters about Bumrah.
On Pant, he said: “I don't think you're going to keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with pain, and it's only going to get better.”
The fourth Test will be played in Manchester on July 23, and the fifth and final Test will be played at the Oval from July 31 onwards.
