The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the lineup for the fifth and final Test against England. Sadly, KL Rahul, won’t be able to participate in the final match due to injury.
On Thursday, February 29, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the updated Indian squad for the fifth and final Test against England, set to take place in Dharamsala from March 7. Unfortunately, KL Rahul remains unavailable for selection due to ongoing fitness concerns. The right-handed batsman has been sidelined since sustaining a quadricep strain during the first Test in Hyderabad last month. Despite being included in the squad for the last three Tests, his participation was contingent on his recovery. The BCCI informed that Rahul has traveled to London to seek advice from a specialist, with the board’s medical team monitoring his progress and coordinating with specialists in London for further guidance.
“The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring him and coordinating with specialists in London for further management of his issue,” the BCCI stated.
In a notable inclusion, pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah makes a return to the squad after being released ahead of the fourth Test in Ranchi to manage his workload. It’s worth mentioning that the 30-year-old has played five Tests since December 26, 2023, delivering 129.2 overs in these matches.
Bumrah emerged as the top wicket-taker in the recent two-match Test series against South Africa, securing an impressive 12 wickets from three innings at an average of 12.91. In the ongoing series, he currently holds the second spot in the wicket-taker list with 17 dismissals from six innings, maintaining an average of 13.64 and an economy of 2.87. Bumrah is set to rejoin the squad in Dharamsala for the final match of the series, scheduled to begin on March 07 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
In addition, the all-rounder Washington Sundar has been released from the squad to participate in the Ranji Trophy semi-final for Tamil Nadu against Mumbai, commencing on March 02. He will rejoin the team after the conclusion of the game, provided his services are required.
In their press statement, the BCCI shared news about fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s recent surgery to address his right heel issue. The talented bowler is making good progress in his recovery and is slated to move to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru soon, where he will kickstart his rehabilitation journey.
India’s updated squad for the 5th Test:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
