The injury-ridden Indian team has copped another severe blow and the latest addition to the injury squad is pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah has been ruled out of the 4th Test in Brisbane owing to an abdominal tear. It is learned that Bumrah suffered a strain during the 3rd Test in Sydney. Bumrah’s scan reports suggest that the pacer has developed a strain and the Indian team management doesn’t want to risk Bumrah further as the home series against England beckons.
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How valuable is Jasprit Bumrah to India?
India have a busy cricketing calendar ahead with India scheduled to play 5 Test matches against the visiting England team. A source close to BCCI reported that “Jasprit Bumrah suffered an abdominal strain while fielding in Sydney. He is going to sit out of the Brisbane Test but is expected to be available against England.”
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Bumrah has been one of the key members of the Indian Test squad for the past couple of years. He has taken upon the mantle of the leader of the squad in his short sojourn as the Test team member. Bumrah is the only Asian bowler to have grabbed a 5-for in South Africa, England, Australia, and West Indies. His skillset is next to none and he is one of the best pacers in the world. His absence will leave a big void in the Indian bowling setup. But it is equally important for the Indian team to preserve Bumrah from getting burnt out.
The leader of the attack:
Bumrah has spearheaded an inexperienced bowling lineup in Australia with much aplomb. He has stood up admirably in the absence of Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yadav. Bumrah has mentored Test debutants, Mohammad Siraj and Navdeep Saini finely. His absence means the Indian team will be without any of their 5 leading pacers. It is to India’s credit that they are still in with a chance to register a historic series win in Australia.
An inexperienced pace bowling line-up:
Mohammad Siraj will be leading the Indian pace department in Brisbane for the 4th Test against Australia. Navdeep Saini along with either Shardul Thakur or T. Natarajan are expected to accompany Siraj. The total combined experience in terms of Test matches for this bowling unit will be a maximum of 7, as Siraj will be playing his 3rd Test, Saini his 2nd. While Thakur if he gets a chance will be playing his 2nd Test match and T. Natarajan is yet to make his debut.
