India vs England: No Jasprit Bumrah for Ranchi Test, will India go for a turner?

As Team India landed in Ranchi, a familiar face that has been tormenting England was missing. As previously reported by The Indian Express, the hosts will take the field in the fourth Test without star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, with the selectors and team management giving him a break to manage his workload. With Bumrah out of the Test, India’s think-tank is in a huddle about his replacement in the XI.

During the previous selection committee meeting, the selectors had informed the team management about the need to rest Bumrah keeping the road ahead in mind. Although the pacer is understood to have been keen on playing all five Tests, The Indian Express understands that with the IPL, T20 World Cup and other marquee assignments coming up, the team management and selectors advised him to sit out the Ranchi Test as he would be needed in the final game in Dharamsala.

In the three Tests so far, more than the spinners, it is Bumrah who has had England in all sorts of trouble with his lethal reverse-swing. Though the workload management system hasn’t raised any red flags as yet, given his history of back issues, it was inevitable that India would have to play a Test without him. And now that India are entering the territory, the big question is who comes in place of Bumrah.

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Much of it would now depend on the conditions that India encounter in Ranchi. Having chosen to play on traditional slow pitches that tend to start flat and deteriorate as the Test progresses, for the first time in this series India are contemplating whether to go for a turner. If that is the case, India could bring in Washington Sundar or Axar Patel in place of Bumrah to strengthen the batting. Ranchi, like the other venues in the series, has black soil pitches. And it is understood that so far, pitch preparation has gone the same way as it did in Hyderabad, Vizag and Rajkot. However, should India prefer a turner, the groundstaff only has to do selective watering or stop it altogether.

For Ranchi, India have Mukesh Kumar and uncapped Akash Deep to choose from as Mohammed Siraj’s partner. But in the lone Test he played in the series at Vizag, on a flat deck, Mukesh struggled to pose any sort of threat to the Bazballers. And having taken a 2-1 lead, India are wary of not losing the momentum, particularly because at Dharamsala – the venue for the fifth Test – England would feel at home because of the conditions on offer.

Akash Deep had a good outing against England Lions. But exposing a newcomer to Bazball could come with its own risks, which is why playing an extra spinner is being considered as an option.

Even at Vizag, where Siraj was rested, India had initially planned to play Washington, but eventually went with Mukesh, who bowled only 12 overs in the match.

Even if it isn’t a turner, India believe playing another spinner would strengthen the team as both Washington and Axar are bankable options with the bat. The reason India are sceptical about playing on a rank turner is their inexperienced batting unit. A clear picture is expected when head coach Rahul Dravid makes his first dash to the pitch on Wednesday afternoon.

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