India likely to make 4 changes for 5th Test vs England: Pant, Bumrah out; Kuldeep set for comeback

India are expected to make at least four changes to their final playing XI on the England tour in the fifth Test at The Oval as they trail the hosts 2-1. Rishabh Pant has been ruled out, while Jasprit Bumrah could be rested. Check the players who can come in. read more

Both Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant are expected to be missing from India's playing XI for 5th Test vs England. Image: PTI

India coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday confirmed that Rishabh Pant is out of the fifth and final Test against England, which starts on 31 July at The Oval, while no decision has been taken on Jasprit Bumrah’s participation. Gambhir had said before leaving for England that Bumrah would only play in three Test matches, which the pacer completed in the fourth Test at Manchester.

After taking just two wickets for 112 in 33 overs in the Manchester Test, Bumrah is highly likely to be rested in the final Test with India trailing 2-1 in the series. The 31-year-old pacer Bumrah looked jaded in the fourth game and needs rest.

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This means India would be required to make at least two changes in the final Test at The Oval vs England, but it can be more after Shardul Thakur went wicketless in 11 overs and conceded 55 runs as England scored 669 in their only innings in the Manchester Test.

India bowlers looked pretty tired and clueless during the match and it was the heroic centuries from captain Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar that helped the visitors pull off a memorable draw.

India could make four changes in 5th Test vs England

Let’s start talking about the changes. Pant has been replaced by Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan in the squad, but Dhruv Jurel, who has already scored 202 runs in four Tests and kept wickets in Lord’s and Manchester matches, is expected to come into the playing XI.

Akash Deep, who was ruled out of the Manchester Test due to a back issue, should ideally replace Bumrah in the playing XI if he is fit. And there’s a good chance, Jadeja and Sundar’s centuries would have given the team management and head coach Gautam Gambhir enough confidence to play Kuldeep Yadav in place of all-rounder Thakur.

With Kuldeep, India will have a genuine wicket-taker in their playing XI, who can be highly beneficial in a must-win contest for India.

The last change could be debutant Anshul Kamboj being dropped for Arshdeep Singh. Renowned for his accuracy, Kamboj bowled at a poor 120kph speed in the match and didn’t look up to the challenge in international cricket. His performance has piled more pressure on bowling coach Morne Morkel.

To bring in more variety and experience, India could hand a Test debut to left-hander Arshdeep, who has already played 72 white-ball matches for India.

India’s possible playing XI for the 5th Test vs England: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

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