India captain Shubman Gill has addressed growing speculation around Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the fourth Test, following India’s narrow 22-run defeat to England at Lord’s in the third Test of the five-match series.
When asked if Bumrah would be available for the next match, Gill offered a cryptic response:
“You’ll get to know soon.”
Bumrah, who has already featured in two of the three Tests, was initially scheduled to play only three matches in the series to manage his workload. The pacer delivered a standout performance at Lord’s, claiming five wickets in the first innings, adding two more in the second, and even facing 54 balls in a gritty last-wicket stand with Jadeja on Day 5.
Despite his efforts and Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 61, India fell short in their 193-run chase, being bowled out for 170, and now trail 1-2 in the series.
After the match, Gill expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity but stood by his team’s effort.
“Extremely proud. Five days of hard-fought cricket and it comes down to the last session, last wicket… England kept attacking and we couldn’t get those key 50-run partnerships we needed up top.”
Reflecting on strategy and execution, Gill added that India had hoped to secure a lead of 80–100 runs during their first innings, knowing that chasing on Day 5 could be tricky. However, lapses late on Day 4 and a fiery English attack on Day 5 derailed those plans.
“If we had applied ourselves better in the last one hour yesterday and this morning, things could have gone differently,” he said, praising Jadeja’s resilience and the lower order’s fight.
As India looks ahead to the crucial fourth Test, all eyes will be on Bumrah’s availability, which may prove pivotal in turning the series around.
