Mumbai: India will enter the third and final Test against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium without their leading pace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah, a key figure in India’s bowling lineup, has been given a break to manage his workload before the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, which begins on November 22 in Perth. Mohammed Siraj is set to replace him, aiming to strengthen India’s pace battery and leave a mark as the team strives to conclude the series on a victorious note.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that Jasprit Bumrah is still recovering from a viral illness and was not considered for selection for the Mumbai Test. “Mr Jasprit Bumrah has not completely recovered from his viral illness and was therefore not available for selection,” the BCCI posted on Twitter.
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, in the pre-match press conference, was cautious about Bumrah’s absence, indicating that the rest period is crucial for maintaining his fitness for the forthcoming series. Although Bumrah attended the training session on Wednesday, he did not bowl and was sent back to Ahmedabad that evening for further recovery.
The Indian squad will also include Mohammed Siraj and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is expected to open with captain Rohit Sharma, joining stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. On the other hand, New Zealand is set to field a formidable team, with Tom Latham announcing Ish Sodhi’s inclusion in place of the injured Mitchell Santner, and Matt Henry stepping in for Tim Southee.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke.
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
