'If Jasprit Bumrah plays...', Former India opener shapes India playing XI for 5th Test

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar previously announced that Jasprit Bumrah will play in 3 out of 5 tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. Bumrah has already participated in 3 matches. So the question remains about his participation in the remaining game. Between the fourth and fifth tests, there is only a 3-day gap.

Prioritizing the workload management, former India international Navjot Singh Sidhu expressed his desire to keep Bumrah on the bench for the 5th Test at The Oval. Sidhu shaped the India bowling attack without the ace pacer. He suggested Team India bring back Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna to combine with Mohammed Siraj. The former opener is not pleased to see the performances of Shardul Thakur or Anshul Kamboj. In place of these two pace bowling all-rounders, the former cricketer would like to see Kuldeep Yadav in the final XI.

"Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur can be replaced by Kuldeep. There is nothing against anyone. Anshul will learn, but you are here more to make India win than to build someone. Shardul also fell short. It will be a rock-hard wicket at The Oval. A spinner can come into a solid zone on the third and fourth days. Have batting till seven. If Bumrah plays fine. There are only three days so he may rest. Then there will be Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna. This should be your bowling attack with Kuldeep. Then you make Washington Sundar and Jadeja bowl too. Then it will feel like you are playing to win," the former opener said in his YouTube video. 

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Dhruv Jurel to play 5th Test?

Apart from the bowling combination, the Indian think tank will also have to make a decision about the wicketkeeping duties, as Rishabh Pant has been ruled out due to injury. Narayan Jagadeesan came as his replacement, but Sidhu liked to take a bet on Dhruv Jurel. 

"If Dhruv Jurel plays at six in the next match, Jadeja can come at five as well. You have this option. Look at him as a pure batter. Overseas as a bowler, Jadeja is good in a supporting role, but he has not been able to win you games, and that is evident. Play Washington Sundar at seven," he added.