London: In a significant shake-up ahead of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, India is expected to rest star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, paving the way for the inclusion of young left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. The move comes as part of India’s workload management strategy, with Bumrah having featured heavily throughout the series.
Although no official confirmation has been issued, team sources have hinted at Bumrah’s exclusion due to fitness concerns and pitch assessment reports. The Oval surface is currently presenting a green top, making pace-friendly combinations more appealing. Yet, India’s think tank is also weighing spin options, with Kuldeep likely to return to bolster the attack alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
Speaking ahead of the Test, stand-in skipper Shubman Gill stated, “The final call on Jasprit will be taken after we inspect the pitch. But we are confident in the bench strength. Arshdeep has been bowling really well in the nets and is ready for the challenge.”
If selected, Arshdeep Singh will make his Test debut, likely replacing Anshul Kamboj in the squad. Arshdeep, who has already made his mark in white-ball formats, is considered a steady swing bowler well-suited to English conditions. Kuldeep, on the other hand, brings variation and control, something India may lean on if the surface shows signs of wear as the match progresses.
India has also had to reshuffle the batting and wicketkeeping setup, with Rishabh Pant ruled out after suffering a foot injury. Dhruv Jurel is expected to take up the gloves. The top order is likely to remain unchanged, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Sai Sudharsan continuing to provide the batting core alongside Gill.
England, too, are making changes, with captain Ben Stokes out due to a shoulder injury. They’ve included Jacob Bethell and seamers Gus Atkinson, Craig Overton, and Josh Tongue to freshen the side. India, trailing 2–1 in the series, need a win at The Oval to level it 2–2, giving the final match high stakes for both sides.
India’s Likely Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep / Shardul Thakur
As the teams gear up for the high-pressure finale, all eyes will be on Arshdeep and Kuldeep to see if they can seize the moment and guide India to a series-levelling victory on English soil.
Discussion about this post