Dasgupta backs Bumrah for Manchester Test, urges Sudharsan’s return in place of Nair

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the crucial fourth Test against England has become a growing point of discussion as India, currently trailing 1-2 in the five-Test series, look to square off at Manchester.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes India would greatly benefit from the inclusion of the ICC No. 1-ranked bowler for the fourth Test, citing the long gap between matches.

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Ahead of the series, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir had announced that Bumrah would only play three of the five games in the series in order to manage his workload. That policy has meant that Bumrah played in the first and third Tests at Headingley and Lord’s while being rested from the second Test at Edgbaston.

If the team management follows a similar trend, the 31-year-old quick, who took a fifer each at both Leeds and Lord’s, could be rested for the Old Trafford game to manage his troublesome back. However, Dasgupta feels that Bumrah’s presence in the bowling department becomes very crucial for the Shubman Gill-led side in the must-win game.

“Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test, absolutely yes. I’ve heard rumours that the plan for him was to play in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tests. But since India is 2-1 behind, the fourth Test becomes very, very crucial for a comeback. You would definitely want the world’s best bowler to play,” Dasgupta said on JioHotstar.

Interestingly, India have lost both the Tests Bumrah has played. With India aiming to level the series in the Test at Old Trafford, starting on July 23, Dasgupta felt there was enough gap between the third and fourth Tests for the right-armer to recover.

“And there is a gap of 8 days between the two Test matches. The fifth Test will only be relevant depending on what happens in the fourth, and that’s something to worry about later. But the relevance of the fourth Test is very high,” added Dasgupta.

Replace Karun Nair with Sai Sudharsan

Dasgupta also suggested a significant change in India’s top order, and believes that the team management should invest in young Sai Sudharsan for the remaining two Tests while resting Karun Nair, who has failed to cash on to the opportunities in the six innings so far.

Nair, who’s made a comeback to the Test team after eight years, has made just 131 runs in three games and is the only top-four batter from either side to have not hit a half-century in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.

The left-handed Sudharsan made zero and 30 in his debut Test at Leeds and has been benched since then as India brought in batting all-rounder Washington Sundar for the next two matches at Edgbaston and Lord’s.

“In the Playing XI, you don’t want more than one change. If there is only one, it would be replacing Karun Nair with Sai Sudharsan. Because Karun Nair hasn’t made any runs. He’s got starts but hasn’t converted them into big scores. I also believe he doesn’t look that comfortable at the crease either.

“And secondly, Sai Sudharsan is a young player. If you want to invest in this England series, you’d rather invest in a younger player. Karun Nair has got starts in both Test matches, but he hasn’t looked that convincing.

“So if you’re looking to build ahead, you might as well invest in someone like Sai Sudharsan. Because after this, I don’t know when you’ll come back to a series in England. So when you have two Tests left, invest in Sai Sudharsan,” said Dasgupta.

Stung by the loss at Lord’s despite being in a comfortable position at various stages of the third Test, India now face the dual challenge of halting England’s momentum and breaking their own psychological barrier of never winning a Test in nine attempts at Old Trafford. The fourth Test starts on July 23.