India assistant coach provides major update on Bumrah’s inclusion for second Test

Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate has shared a key update regarding the inclusion of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the India playing XI for the second Test against England, which starts on Wednesday at Edgbaston.

Prior to the start of the five-match Test series against England, the Indian team management outlined a workload management plan for Jasprit Bumrah, allowing him to feature in only three Test matches.

The precautionary major was taken in light of Bumrah’s back surgery after the Border-Gavaskar series.

Addressing the media ahead of the second Test, Ryan Ten Doeschate confirmed that the right-arm pacer is ready to play in the second match; however, the decision will be taken at the last minute.

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“With Jasprit Bumrah, he is ready to play,” ten Doeschate said. “Like I said, it is how we manage him. If we feel there is value in playing him in this Test, we will make this call very last minute,” he added.

The 45-year-old emphasized pitch, explaining that Jasprit Bumrah is fit to feature in the India Playing XI, but it’s just about solving a puzzle.

“We are talking about how the pitch is gonna play,” ten Doeschate explained. “We have seen him train yesterday and today. It is not that he is not fit to play. We are just trying to fit those puzzle pieces to get the most out of him.”

For the unversed, England leads the series 1-0 after defeating India in the series opener at Leeds by five wickets. Ben Duckett starred with the bat for the Three Lions with a magnificent 149 while chasing 371 in the fourth innings.

Meanwhile, India suffered defeat despite demonstrating an excellent batting display in the first innings, scoring 471 runs with notable contributions from the top order.

READ: England unveil Playing XI for second Test against India

India assistant coach provides update on Rishabh Pant’s injury

Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach of India, on Tuesday expressed hope that wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant will achieve full fitness ahead of the second Test against New Zealand.

Pant made a valiant 99 in the opening loss to the Kiwis, marking the visitors’ first Test victory in India since 1988.

But while keeping wickets, he hurt the same knee that was operated on after a serious car crash in December 2022 that sidelined him for more than a year.

His fitness remains in focus as the hosts look to level the three-match series in the Test starting Thursday in Pune.

“Rishabh’s pretty good,” Ryan ten Doeschate told reporters. “He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed he’ll be good to keep in this Test as well.”

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Rishabh Pant, 27, has made a remarkable comeback from the night his Mercedes rammed into a barrier, flipped and caught fire near New Delhi.

He was left with a damaged ligament in his right knee, a hurt wrist and ankle and abrasions to his back, and laboured through an intensive rehabilitation programme.

India were bowled out for 46 in the opening match before Pant helped lead the fightback in a 177-run partnership with Sarfaraz Khan, who hit 150 after coming in for Shubman Gill.

Sarfaraz’s first Test ton has left India weighing a problem of plenty, with Gill set to return in the second match and management backing senior batsman KL Rahul, who has struggled with patchy batting form.

“There’s certainly no concerns about KL,” said ten Doeschate. “He’s batting nicely, he’s in a good mental space, but yeah, we’re certainly going to have to fit seven pieces into six spots for this Test and look at the pitch now and decide what’s going to be best for the team.”

READ: Pakistan vice-captain banks on spin strategy in England series decider