Team India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has confirmed that fast bowler Shardul Thakur is fit and available for the upcoming third Test against England which begins on August 25 in Headingley, Leeds.

Shardul was left out of the 2nd Test after he picked up a hamstring injury in the lead up to the Lord's encounter. He had picked 4 wickets in the first Test in Nottingham but bowled only 13 overs in the 2nd innings, the least by an Indian fast bowler.

He was replaced by Ishant Sharma in the Lord's Test and the senior pacer grabbed the opportunity that came his way with both hands.

Rahane confirmed all the Indian pacers are fit to take the field and they are eager to play after having had a 9-day break between the two Tests.

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"Shardul Thakur is fit and available for selection for the 3rd Test. Now, we have to look at which combination we are going with. All the fast bowlers are ready to play and they want to play as the break after the 2nd Test helped," Rahane told the press on Monday.

"We will take a call on the Playing XI now. We are not thinking too much about the conditions and whatever Headingley has to offer. We just want to give our best, all players are in a good headspace and it is about putting our best foot forward," Rahane added.

However, it remains to be seen whether Shardul gets into the playing XI, given the performance of Ishant, Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami in the Lord’s Test match, which India won by 151 runs by bowling out England for a paltry 120 on day five inside 60 overs to go 1-0 up in the five-Test series.

(India Today inputs)