India’s pace spearhead didn’t have much of a role to play in India’s whirlwind victory in the third Test.
The track was loaded with bounce and turn which helped the Indian spinners, Ashwin and Axar Patel to wreck the much vaunted English batting line-up.
Since the fourth Test will also be in the same stadium, India is expected to go with a spin-heavy attack.
For this reason, at least for now, Bumrah’s absence may not hurt the Indian attack.
The BBCI has announced that Bumrah will skip the fourth Test due to personal reasons.
India’s team management will not seek a replacement to the squad.
Bumrah was required to bowl just the six overs in the first innings of the Ahmedabad Test match on a surface that took spin from the first day.
So far, Bumrah has taken four wickets from 48 overs bowled across two Test matches.
He was also rested from the second Test in Chennai as part of the team’s rotation policy.
Mohammed Siraj, who replaced Bumrah in that Test, is expected to return although India can also call back the experienced Umesh Yadav who has been declared fit.
Umesh Yadav was added to the squad after recovering from a calf injury sustained on the Australia tour.
India lead the four-match series 2-1.
If they avoid defeat in the final Test, they can progress to the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
India’s squad for the 4th Test: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Md. Siraj, Umesh Yadav
