According to sources, BCCI delayed announcing the squad for the upcoming Test matches to confirm the availability of any of the players among Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Delay in Announcing India’s Test Squad
The Ajit Agrakar-led committee was supposed to announce the test squad on Thursday for the remaining three tests on England’s India tour 2024.
No clarity has been given by the boars where the meeting took place or not, sources have mentioned the possibility of the meeting being held on Friday. It is believed that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will be joining the meeting to share their opinions.
BCCI has revealed that Kohli has not yet confirmed his return date, but it is almost confirmed that Virat Kohli will miss the third and fourth Test in Rajkot and Ranchi.
The selectors and the management are not awaiting Kohli for the squad announcement. They might be waiting because of Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja. With almost a week available before the third test, the selectors are in no hurry to announce the squad.
Team Management has the option of resting Jasprit Bumrah for the third test but after the happenings in the first two tests, they might change in opinions.
Now the selectors want Bumrah to play in Rajkot, where another batting pitch awaits India and England. Mohammed Siraj is expected to return to playing 11 after being rested for the second Test.
Bumrah has bowled 58 overs in the first two tests so far and picked 15 wickets. His presence will make a huge difference and hence management wants him to participate in the third Test.
A final call will be taken after discussing with Bumrah after going through the BCCI medical reports on the fast bowler’s workload.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Jadeja’s fitness are also awaited for the confirmation of the squad. KL Rahul and Jadeja were ruled out for the second Test due to a Quadriceps and hamstring injury respectively.
Jadeja shared a positive update on his fitness, but the final call will be taken after reviewing the medical reports.
Kohli’s absence has created a pressure in the middle order, which made KL Rahul and Jadeja’s presence mandatory in the playing 11. Shubman Gill‘s century in the second innings in Vishakapatnam gave India relief but, Shreyas Iyer‘s form will be a concern.
India and England will be playing their third test starting on February 15 at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
