India will travel south to The Oval with a welcome luxury – every specialist quick is available. Head coach Gautam Gambhir summed it up in plain words: “All the fast bowlers are fit.” For a side that limped into Manchester minus Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep, and had a tired Mohammed Siraj, that line felt almost strange to hear.
The bigger question sits around Jasprit Bumrah. At the start of the tour, the medical staff pencilled him in for three Tests at most, mindful of the stress reaction that sidelined him for five months earlier this year. Yet with England 2-1 up and one match to go, the prospect of a fourth outing in as many weeks is suddenly on the table.
“We haven’t had any conversation around the combination for the last Test,” Gambhir replied when asked if the three-Test cap still applied. “No decision has been made on whether Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Ultimately, whoever plays, they will try and do the job for the country.”
Reading between the lines, nothing is ruled out. Bumrah was a touch down on pace at Old Trafford, though the sluggish outfield and loose footholes probably did him no favours. He has had two full days off his feet since India’s marathon 143-over rearguard secured the draw on Sunday, so the final call may rest on how he pulls up after two training sessions in south London.
Context first, analysis later
England lead 2-1 after wins at Lord’s and Headingley, India taking the opener at Trent Bridge before this week’s stalemate in Manchester. The fifth Test starts Thursday. India must win to level the series and retain their long-standing record of not losing back-to-back away rubbers under Gambhir’s tenure.
Why the fast-bowling fitness suddenly matters
Old Trafford exposed India’s thinning resources. Arshdeep’s cut hand and Akash Deep’s groin strain meant emergency call-ups. Anshul Kamboj made a solid, if unspectacular, debut, but the coaching group have always banked on a fully fired pace quartet to challenge England. Conditions at The Oval – generally truer bounce, a hint of swing early, then flatter – traditionally suit a balanced attack more than outright spin, so the return of all three left-arm and right-arm options gives the selectors actual headaches, not just paperwork.
Gambhir on the broader picture
The coach does not hide behind caveats. “You are asking someone who only believes in results,” Gambhir said. “I’ve said that in the past as well, that I believe in results. We are still 2-1 down in the series. This is the Indian team. Yes there is inexperience but this is still the best Indian team right now. So for me, I think we are still down 2-1. And hopefully we can try and make it 2-2. That’s going to be a good achievement.”
Those comments, blunt but fair, hint at the balance he is trying to strike: acknowledging a fresh-look side – Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and the two debutant bowlers – without letting them hide behind that tag.
Taking heart from Manchester
Few expected India to bat five sessions on a wearing day-four pitch, yet they did, finishing 412 for 7 when stumps were pulled. Gambhir praised the collective resilience: “When you are put under the pressure, and you end up batting five sessions, I think that’s great character… it just ends up giving a lot of confidence in the dressing room as well.”
Momentum is a slippery thing in Test cricket, but confidence matters, particularly for a bowling group who have carried heavy workloads. Bumrah alone has delivered 146.4 overs this series, hardly light duty for someone carefully managed back from injury.
Eyes on The Oval
England have already named an unchanged squad, signalling faith in their own pace trio of Anderson, Robinson and Wood. Whether India counter with Bumrah-Siraj-Arshdeep, stick with the extra batter, or roll the dice on two spinners plus three quicks, will only be clear at the toss.
One thing, though, feels certain. The players, like the supporters, understand the simple equation. Win and share the trophy; lose or draw and the trip ends in disappointment. Or, as Gambhir put it: “And I’m sure going into The Oval, we will be high on confidence, but we can’t take anything for granted… we absolutely will be up for it.”
