'We've got to look at all the factors': Jasprit Bumrah's availability still in doubt for must-win Manchester Test, says India's assistant coach

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has hinted that Jasprit Bumrah is likely to play the crucial fourth Test against England in Manchester, but a final decision will only be taken right before the match, which begins on July 23. With India trailing the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 1-2, the team is under pressure to level the series.

Call on Bumrah to be taken closer to match

Speaking after India’s training session in Beckenham on Thursday, Doeschate explained that several factors will influence the decision. He also stated that the team is “leaning towards” playing Bumrah in Manchester with the series on the line. India must win the fourth Test match to stay alive in the contest.

“We’ll make that call in Manchester. We know we’ve got him for one of the last two tests. I think it’s pretty obvious the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him,” Doeschate was quoted as saying by PTI.

“But again, we’ve got to look at all the factors. How many days of cricket are we going to get up there? What do we feel is our best chance of winning that game? And then how that fits in together with the Oval and looking at the last two games holistically as part of the series,” he added.

The Indian team is slated to reach Manchester on July 19. Captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir will then take a final call on Bumrah’s inclusion, most likely after consulting the bowler.

Before the start of the India vs England Test series, Bumrah had said that he would only be available for three Tests due to workload management. He cited this as a reason for not taking up the captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.

Rishabh Pant likely to play 4th Test

Meanwhile, Doeschate said that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is expected to regain full fitness before the fourth Test. Pant had injured his index finger during the Lord’s Test and was forced to sit out for the remainder of India’s bowling innings.

“He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third test and it’s only going to get easier and easier on his finger. Keeping is obviously the last part of the process to make sure that he can keep,” he said.

“We don’t want to go through that again where we have to replace the keeper halfway through the innings. But he rested today. We’re just trying to give him the rest as long as possible and hopefully he’s good to go in Manchester in the first training session,” Doeschate added.

Pant was replaced by Dhruv Jurel as keeper in both innings after his injury. However, the left-hander still came down to bat and scored a crucial 74 runs in India’s first innings before getting run out by Ben Stokes.