After the fourth Test ended in a dramatic draw all the focus is now on the final Test of the series, which India needs to win to draw the series.
In regard to the final test, the coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that his team has a full quota of fit fast bowlers to choose from. Significantly, after declaring that he was fit to play just three Test matches prior to the series, Gambhir did not rule out the prospect of Jasprit Bumrah playing a fourth Test.
With Mohammed Siraj feeling exhausted and Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep suffering from bowling hand and groin problems, respectively, India entered the third Test hobbled. Anshul Kamboj, who played before Prasidh Krishna, was one of the reinforcements they had to bring in from India.
“All the fast bowlers are fit,” Gambhir said after India’s 143-over batting effort to secure a draw at Old Trafford and stay alive in the series. “There are no injury concerns.”
Bumrah is included in that as well, but his situation is distinct. Instead of playing just three Test matches due to an injury, he is doing so to control his workload and avoid getting hurt again following his stress reaction earlier in the season. He had been out for five months because of that stress reaction. With a series still on the line, Gambhir was questioned about if that workload prescription was still in place.
“We haven’t had any conversation around the combination for the last Test,” Gambhir replied. “No decision has been made on whether Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Ultimately, whoever plays, they will try and do the job for the country.”
According to Gambhir, the outcomes must be viewed in the context of an inexperienced Indian team. However, he added that the series’ scoreboard remains unchanged for any reason. Additionally, he didn’t want to overestimate his accomplishment of drawing at Old Trafford.
“You are asking someone who only believes in results,” Gambhir said. “I’ve said that in the past as well, that I believe in results. We are still 2-1 down in the series. This is the Indian team. Yes there is inexperience but this is still the best Indian team right now. So for me, I think we are still down 2-1. And hopefully we can try and make it 2-2. That’s going to be a good achievement.
“When you are put under pressure, and you end up batting five sessions, I think that’s great character. Anything that you do in these conditions, when you are put under pressure and you come out of those pressure moments, it is always a great feeling, and it just ends up giving a lot of confidence in the dressing room as well.
“And I’m sure going into The Oval, we will be high on confidence, but we can’t take anything for granted. I think it’s going to be a new game, it’s going to be against a strong England side, and we absolutely will be up for it.”
The fifth and final Test of the series will begin from 31st July.
