India assessing major selection calls for Manchester Test
Workload management for the pacers and the injury recovery of wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant among the key decisions to make for the tourists.
With an extended gap before the fourth Test against England, India have significant decisions to make with respect to their playing XI for the Old Trafford outing.
Trailing 2-1 in the five-Test series, having come out second best in a close encounter at Lord’s, the visitors were dealt an injury blow as wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant sustained an injury to his index finger.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is hopeful that the 27-year-old can make the recovery and feature in the fourth Test.
“He [Pant] will bat in Manchester before the Test. Look, I don't think you're going to keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what,” ten Doeschate told reporters on Thursday.
“He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third Test and it's only going to get easier and easier on his finger.
“And 'keeping is obviously the last part of the process to make sure that he can 'keep. We don't want to go through that again where we have to replace the 'keeper halfway through the innings."
Having picked up the injury during England’s first innings at Lord’s, Pant batted in both innings but was unable to keep the wickets. He was replaced by Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps.
"Jurel's in the equation, but I mean obviously if Rishabh's fit, he plays the next Test and does both," said ten Doeschate.
Another important call with regards to selection remains that of the No.1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
India had rested Bumrah for the second Test in Edgbaston for managing his workload, and the pacer’s availability for the Manchester Test is unclear.
"No, we'll make that call [on Bumrah] in Manchester still," ten Doeschate said.
"We know we have got him for one of the last two Tests. It's pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester so there will be a leaning towards playing him.”
With 12 wickets from two Tests, Bumrah is India’s second-best wicket-taker in the ongoing series. In front of him in the tally is Mohammed Siraj, who has 13 scalps from his three outings.
With 109 overs under his belt in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series, ten Doeschate added that India are assessing Siraj’s workload ahead of the next Test.
“I think we take for granted how lucky we are to have someone like that," he said.
“I know he doesn't always have the returns that you expect from a fast bowler but in terms of heart, he's like a lion.
“What he brings to this bowling attack when he does have the ball in his hand, it always feels like something is going to happen.
“He's not someone to shy away from his workload, so it makes it even more important for us to manage his workload and make sure that he is fit to give his best.”
The fourth Test between India and England begins on July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester.