Massive blow to India ahead of Ranchi Test against England, two star players ruled out

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on February 20 announced that premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been released from the squad for the fourth Test against England in Ranchi. Also, KL Rahul who is yet to regain full fitness is ruled out of the Test as well.
 

In its media release, BCCI revealed that Bumrah has been rested as a part of his workload management as Sports Tak reported earlier. 
 

“The decision was taken keeping in mind the duration of the series and amount of cricket he has played in recent times,” the board said in a statement. 
 

BCCI also made it clear that Rahul’s participation in the final Test of the series in Dharamsala is subject to fitness as well. Rahul played in the first Test of the series in Hyderabad. He complained of pain in his right quadriceps and was ruled out of the second Test. He went to the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru alongside Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja returned but Rahul is yet to regain his fitness.

Who will replace Jasprit Bumrah?

Mukesh Kumar is likely to return to the side and open the bowling alongside Mohammed Siraj. As Siraj returned after a break in the Vizag Test, Mukesh was released from the squad to play Ranji Trophy. For Bengal, he took 10 wickets against Bengal including a six-wicket haul in the second innings. However, he struggled in the Vizag Test and managed to take just one wicket of a tailender while leaking boundaries with the new ball. 

Akash Deep received his maiden Test call-up for the last three Tests. He took 13 wickets for India A in a three-match series against England Lions. He replaced Avesh Khan in the side. 

Who will replace KL Rahul?

Sarfaraz Khan who replaced Rahul in the squad after the first Test made an impressive debut with twin half-centuries. After Rahul was ruled out of the third Test, Devdutt Padikkal was added to the squad. Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar has been struggling for form with his best of 32 which came in the Vizag Test. Padikkal may make his Test debut in Ranchi. The Karnataka batter has scored three centuries in the last four games including one against the England Lions. 
 

The fourth Test will begin on February 23 in Ranchi as India look to seal the series. 
 

India’s updated squad for the 4th Test: 

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
 

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