After a heartbreaking 22-run loss at Lord’s, the Indian team is now facing another big question ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester- will Jasprit Bumrah play?
The series is finely poised at 2-1 in England’s favour, and the presence of India’s ace pacer could be crucial in the next game starting on July 23 at Old Trafford
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However, when captain Shubman Gill was asked about Bumrah’s availability, he gave nothing away.
Shubman Gill shared an update about Bumrah ahead of Manchester Test
In the post-match interaction, skipper Gill was directly asked whether Bumrah would be play he upcoming fourth Test. Gill simply responded, “You’ll get to know soon,” offering no clarity.
Gill also mentioned that he has already finalized a squad of 12 players but will finalize the final XI based on the conditions at Old Trafford closer to the match day.
"I have settled 12 players. Will decide on the playing 11 for Manchester Test after seeing the conditions," India captain said.
Apart from Bumrah, another key player under the fitness scanner is Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper had to leave the field at Lord’s due to a finger injury but returned to bat later in the match.
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Gill shared that Pant underwent scans after the match and is “likely to be fit” for the fourth Test. His return would be a big boost for India.
How did Shubman Gill reflect on the narrow loss at Lord’s?
Speaking about the Lord’s defeat, Gill described it as a heartbreak, calling it “as close as Test cricket gets.” He pointed out how crucial moments slipped out of India’s hands especially Rishabh Pant’s run-out and the missed opportunity to take a first-innings lead.
He added, “We were quite confident this morning. There was still a lot of batting left. We just needed one or two partnerships at the top, but unfortunately, we couldn’t stitch them together,”
Gill credited England for keeping their cool under pressure, saying, “Credit to England—they played better than us.”
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With England now leading the series 2-1, the fourth Test starting July 23 becomes a must-win for India. A defeat would end any hopes of a series win.