ENG vs IND | India to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for final Test at Oval

‌Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss the fifth Test against England at The Oval in London, scheduled to start on Thursday. Before the start of the five-match series itself, it was decided that the Indian pacer would figure only in three matches in the marquee series as part of his workload management. The pacer, who had already played in the first, third, and fourth Tests at Headingley, Lord’s, and Old Trafford, respectively, was, however, in the fray with the visitors trailing the series 2-1 ahead of the all-important game.

But ESPNcricinfo reported that the BCCI’s medical team had not given the Mumbai Indians pacer the go-ahead for the final Test to avoid risks of another back injury and keep the long-term picture in mind. Bumrah was injured during the final Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Sydney earlier this year before making a return during the Indian Premier League 2025 campaign.

The 31-year-old pacer is the joint-highest wicket-taker, and second overall, for India in this series, alongside Mohammed Siraj, with 14 scalps in three games at an average of 26.00 and a strike rate of 51.28. Bumrah has sent down close to 120 overs in the ongoing series against England, averaging almost 24 overs an innings, and the BCCI does not want to take any chances with the pacer’s workload.

India will miss the services of the star pacer as they face a must-win scenario at The Oval to square the series. Akash Deep, who missed the last game with a groin strain, is expected to replace Bumrah in the visitors’ starting lineup.