For the final Test match against England in Dharamsala starting March 7, the BCCI has announced a revised Indian squad. Jasprit Bumrah returns to the fold after a planned break in the previous game to manage his fitness. The elite fast bowler is set to regain his place in the playing XI, meaning Akash Deep—who performed excellently in his debut at Ranchi—will likely step aside.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the revised Indian squad for the fifth and final Test against England, starting March 7 in Dharamsala. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah returned to the squad after being rested for the fourth Test to manage his workload. The right-arm pacer will straightaway claim his spot in the playing XI instead of Akash Deep, who made a brilliant debut in the Ranchi Test.
KL Rahul will miss the final Test as his fitness levels weren't sufficient for selection. The BCCI confirmed that their medical team is currently collaborating with experts in London to ensure he receives the proper treatment and management for his injury.
Due to Rajat Patidar's underwhelming form across six innings, Devdutt Padikkal is now a strong candidate for his first international Test appearance. The 23-year-old left-handed batsman would become the fifth player to debut for India during this particular series, following in the footsteps of Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep.
Washington Sundar has been excused from the national squad to support his state team, Tamil Nadu, in their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Mumbai on March 2nd. The BCCI mentioned that Sundar remains available to rejoin the Indian side for the fifth Test after the domestic match concludes, should he be required.
Although Rohit Sharma's squad has already secured the series with a dominant 3-1 lead, winning the final match remains important to strengthen their standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings.