'Bumrah will....' - Star India pacer drops big hint on Jasprit Bumrah's chances to play ENG vs IND 4th Test

We are less than 48 hours away from the beginning of the crucial Manchester Test, and the Indian team's playing XI is still unsure, due to various reasons, especially for fitness issues. The star Indian pacer has revealed the prime Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah's position for the upcoming Manchester Test.

India are busy in the five-match Test series against the hosts England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, where the visitors are trailing by 2-1 after three matches. To handle the workload management of the Indian prime fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, it was reported that he would play three Tests in the ongoing England tour with proper rest, and a maximum of four Tests if required. 

Bumrah was rested for the second Test of the series at Edgbaston in Birmingham, where India won the Test match by 336 runs and created history by recording their first Test win at the venue. While Bumrah played the first and third Test of the series at Leeds and Lord's, respectively, his presence for the fourth or fifth Test is unknown. In the meantime, India can't afford another defeat in this Test series, as they must win both the remaining fixtures to win this away Test series. 

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Indian camp struggling with injury issues 

Old Trafford in Manchester is ready to host the fourth match of the Test series from Wednesday (July 23). As there is more than a week gap between the third and fourth Tests, Bumrah's presence is very much expected, except for any fitness issue. Meanwhile, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh and pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy have been ruled out of the Manchester Test, and pacer Akash Deep is doubtful for the upcoming Test match. So, Bumrah's presence is going to be crucial for the remaining two Tests of the series. 

Jassi (Bumrah) bhai will play: Mohammed Siraj on Manchester Test squad

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj confirmed that Bumrah would play the Manchester Test. Siraj also opened up India's bowling plan for the English batting line-up.

Siraj said according to India Today, "Jassi (Bumrah) bhai will play only, that’s what we know for now. But the combination is changing day by day. So our only plan is that as much as possible, considering England’s batting attack, our only plan is to bowl in good areas and hit there. Because they batted with a lot of patience. Because in the last match, if you see, they batted with a lot of patience. So we also felt good that yes, now the real fun of Test cricket is coming. So this is our only plan—bowl in good areas. Whatever they do, that’s theirs. But our only plan is to bowl in good areas."

While Siraj is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 with 13 wickets, Bumrah is the second leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets in four innings, including two fifers.