Who will take Jasprit Bumrah's place
Who will take Jasprit Bumrah's place

Who will take Jasprit Bumrah’s place | India Vs England

The sources examines India’s alternatives for replacing seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who may be unable to play in the fourth Test match against England in Ranchi because of workload management.

India has taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after defeating England by 434 runs in the third Test in Rajkot.

India has recovered admirably from a loss in the first Test match in Hyderabad thanks to outstanding individual efforts with the bat and the ball.

With his outstanding performance in each of the first three Test matches, Jasprit Bumrah has topped the standings for taking wickets in the bowling department. According to the workload management program, Bumrah’s hard labor will probably necessitate a respite in the next Test in Ranchi. After a lengthy and consistent run across formats, India rested seamer Mohammed Siraj for the second Test in Visakhapatnam.

With nine wickets, the 30-year-old Bumrah helped India win the Vizag Test by 106 runs, including an outstanding six for 45 in the opening innings. Throughout the series, Bumrah has bowled 80.5 overs and taken 17 wickets at an average of 13.65.

Considering the characteristics of the Ranchi pitch, India may bring in substitutes as Bumrah is expected to be out for the duration of the break. On a surface where spinners are usually useful, India might substitute another tweaker for Bumrah or use a medium pacer with Siraj leading the attack.

Bumrah’s Stellar Performance

Jasprit Bumrah has been in phenomenal form throughout the series, leading the wicket-taking charts for India. In the first three Tests, he has bowled a total of 80.5 overs and has snapped up 17 wickets at an impressive average of 13.65. His contribution has been crucial in India’s success so far.

India’s alternatives for Bumrah’s replacement in the Ranchi Test are as follows:

Mukesh Kumar

In his first three Test matches, the 30-year-old Bengal pacer has not had much of an impact. After making meagre returns (1/70 in two innings) in India’s victory in Vizag, Mukesh was let off for Bengal’s final Ranji Trophy league game.

Mukesh achieved his first-ever First-Class ten-wicket match total (10/50) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, when he was back in his preferred conditions. Against Bihar, he also recorded career-best figures of six for 32. In the event that India decides to replace Bumrah seam-for-seam, Mukesh, who is known to perform well on two-paced tracks, might find his way back into the starting lineup.

Deep Akash

After winning the second Test of the series, Akash Deep received his first call-up to the Indian team. He may be considered as a seam option alongside Siraj for the Ranchi Test. The 27-year-old Bengal fast recently amassed 10 wickets for India A in two red-ball matches played in Ahmedabad against the England Lions touring team. In red-ball cricket, Akash has been a key player for Bengal in recent times, along with Mukesh. In 30 First-Class games, Akash has amassed 104 wickets at an average of 23.58.

Either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel

Rohit Sharma and company may decide to add another spinner if India discovers that the Ranchi strip helps with spin starting on Friday, the first day of the Test. The aggressive batting squad crumbled badly against spin during their crushing loss in England, as local kid Ravindra Jadeja effortlessly went through the batting order with his 13th five-wicket haul.

If spin is important, India may choose to replace Bumrah with Washington Sundar or go with left-arm spinner Axar Patel. Axar (133 runs and five wickets) was discarded for the third Test in order to provide some variation in the spin arsenal, but Sundar hasn’t played in a Test since the English team’s previous trip to the Indian subcontinent nearly three years ago.

Analyzing the Options

The decision to replace Bumrah would depend on various factors, including the pitch conditions, team strategy, and the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses. If the Ranchi pitch is expected to favor seam bowling, Mukesh Kumar or Akash Deep could be the preferred choices. On the other hand, if spin is likely to play a significant role, Axar Patel or Washington Sundar might get the nod.

It is important for the team management to make a well-informed decision based on a thorough analysis of the playing conditions and the skills of the potential replacements. The chosen player should be able to contribute effectively and maintain the team’s winning momentum.

Conclusion

As India prepares for the crucial fourth Test against England in Ranchi, the team will have to make a decision on who will replace Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI. With a 2-1 lead in the series, it is crucial for India to choose a suitable replacement who can contribute to the team’s success. Whether it’s Mukesh Kumar or Akash Deep as seam options or Axar Patel or Washington Sundar as spin options, the decision should be based on careful analysis and consideration of the playing conditions. The chosen player will have the responsibility to step up and deliver for the team in this important Test match.