Dharamsala Test: Bumrah back, Rahul ruled out

Jasprit Bumrah will be part of India’s 16-member squad for the fifth Test in Dharamsala while KL Rahul has been ruled out with Washington Sundar released to join his Tamil Nadu side, who would be playing Mumbai in Ranji Trophy semifinal, starting March 2.

Ahead of the fifth Test starting March 7, BCCI released a statement on Thursday confirming the above developments.

Bumrah was rested for the fourth Test in Ranchi, which India won and sealed the five-match series 3-1. However, the fifth Test still holds significance in terms of WTC points with India at second and England placed eighth.

BCCI confirmed that Rahul is in London to consult doctors over a quadricep-tendon injury that ruled him out from second, third and fourth Tests of the home series against England.

“The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring him and coordinating with specialists in London for further management of his issue,” the statement said. There are chances of Rahul missing the initial matches of IPL 2024 starting March 22, and in that case vice-captain Nicholas Pooran will lead Lucknow Super Giants.

On Mohammed Shami’s recovery, who had a surgery on his right Achilles tendon earlier this week in London, BCCI said, “He is recovering well and will soon head to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to commence his rehabilitation process.”

India’s squad for Dharamsala Test

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