BCCI medical team tells Jasprit Bumrah not to play fifth Test against England, replacement confirmed: Report

By Admin

30 Jul, 2025

Bumrah Ruled Out of Series Decider at The Oval
In a major development ahead of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) medical team has advised Jasprit Bumrah to skip the series decider against England at The Oval. Citing concerns over his back and the importance of preserving his long-term fitness, the medical team, in consultation with team management, made the difficult yet necessary call to rest the World No.1-ranked bowler.

Strategic Call for Long-Term Fitness
Despite India's 1-2 deficit in the series and the enticing opportunity to level it with a win in London, the decision reflects a cautious approach. Bumrah, who hasn’t bowled since Day 4 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, was considered for one final push. But with just a three-day break before the Oval Test, a likely unresponsive pitch, and Bumrah’s heavy workload in the previous matches   including a 33-over spell in Manchester   the risk was deemed too high.

Coach and Management Weigh In
Interestingly, just days ago, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had not ruled out Bumrah’s participation, noting, “Bumrah is fit now, according to his load. He has bowled one inning in the last match. So obviously the head coach, our physio and captain will have a discussion and decide. There has been no discussion.” However, the final call aligns with what was originally planned   Bumrah was only expected to play in three of the five Tests due to previous injury concerns.

Flashback: Lessons from Australia
This move also stems from past experiences. When Bumrah stretched beyond his physical limits during the Australia tour, it resulted in a recurring back injury that threatened to shorten his career. Learning from that, both head coach Gautam Gambhir and Bumrah had agreed to manage his workload carefully this time around.

Akash Deep Returns, Arshdeep Set for Debut
Akash Deep, who had missed the fourth Test due to a groin injury, is now fully fit and will replace Bumrah in the playing XI. His standout performance in Edgbaston, where he picked up 10 wickets, makes him a natural choice to lead the attack. Additionally, Arshdeep Singh is likely to make his Test debut, coming in for Anshul Kamboj. Mohammed Siraj, India’s pace workhorse, will feature in his fifth consecutive Test in this series.

Final Thoughts
While the absence of Bumrah is a blow for India in a must-win game, the decision to prioritise his long-term health could benefit Indian cricket in the years to come. The mantle now passes to a rejuvenated pace unit, with Akash Deep, Siraj, and debutant Arshdeep Singh tasked with delivering a series-levelling performance at The Oval.