'Jassi bhai toh khelege': Mohammed Siraj confirms Jasprit Bumrah's participation in Manchester Test

Mohammed Siraj confirms Jasprit Bumrah's participation in Manchester Test (AP Photo)

India will be fielding their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test against England in Manchester, starting from Wednesday. Bumrah's workload has been heavily debated after it was announced that he'll only play three Tests out of the five. Bumrah has already played two, albeit both being in a losing cause.

Bumrah's seam bowling partner Mohammed Siraj confirmed the development on Monday. “Akash Deep has a groin issue. He bowled today and now the physios will check him. But Jassi bhai toh khelege (Bumrah will definitely play),” Siraj was quoted as saying by Times of India.

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India's build-up to the crucial Test at Old Trafford has been dented by injuries to two of their seamers, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh. The BCCI confirmed earlier in the day that Arshdeep won't be playing the match after hurting his bowling hands at nets in Beckenham. He was seen having his hand taped after what looked like a follow-through injury.

Akash Deep is nursing a groin niggle, compounding India's concerns. The right-arm seamer was instrumental in India squaring the series in Birmingham with a 10-wicket match haul. However, in the Lord's Test, he looked off-colour, managing just one wicket and even walking off on Day 4 for treatment, though the exact nature of that issue wasn't confirmed then.

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With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series at stake and injuries list piling up, it'll be interesting to see Bumrah operating with new combination, which will also feature Siraj.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Anshul Kamboj is likely to make his debut considering the sudden dearth in pace attack. After impressing in the two unofficial Tests against England Lions, Kamboj was added in the senior side.

Other options include Prasidh Krishna, who featured in the first two Tests, along with Shardul Thakur, who played the opening Test in Leeds as a bowling allrounder.

-with ANI inputs