Options India could consider for Jasprit Bumrah in Tests

India did start the England tour on a winning note in the T20I series but suddenly nothing is going India’s way. They have lost the 3 match ODI series 2-1. One of India’s premier fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed the first 2 ODIs and didn’t look at his best in the third. Bumrah has already missed the limited-overs leg and he still hasn’t fully recovered from his thumb injury. India has definitely missed him in the ODIs and T20Is but now are set to miss him in the Tests as well.

Jasprit Bumrah is likely to miss the first 3 Test Matches of the England tour. This comes as the second injury to the India Test Team as Wriddhiman Saha – India’s first choice wicketkeeper is still not fully fit. Jasprit Bumrah injured his thumb while trying to stop the ball of his own bowling off the last ball in the first T20I against Ireland. He had a fracture and that’s why the recovery is taking time. Jasprit Bumrah made his debut in South Africa and impressed everybody in the 3 match Test Series. He took 14 wickets in 3 matches which included a 5 wicket haul as well. He was India’s leading wicket-taker after Shami. Even though India has a good pool of fast bowlers Bumrah will certainly be missed for the first three Test matches.

So, let’s have a look at 3 possible replacements who could replace him in the Test Squad.

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#3 Rajneesh Gurbani

Rajneesh Gurbani was the leading wicket-taker for Vidarbha in the Ranji season

Rajneesh Gurbani was an integral part of the Vidarbha team which lifted the Ranji Trophy this year. He was absolutely sensational with the ball. He took 39 wickets in just 6 matches at an average of 17.13 which included a hat-trick in the Final of the Ranji Trophy. He was the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He was equally effective with the new and the old ball. His terrific performance in the domestic circuit earned him an India A call-up for the 4 Day Matches.

He is currently in England with the India A team. He took 4 wickets in the game against Windies A which helped India A record a great win. He is relatively new but definitely has the talent to become an Indian Test Bowler and hence he is slotted in at No.3 on this list.

#2 Mohammad Siraj

Mohammad Siraj is in great form for the India A side

Mohammad Siraj has been on the fringes of the India team for quite a while now. He did make his debut for India in the shortest format but failed to impress. He had a decent season in the IPL with RCB this year. But the thing which might go in Siraj’s favor is his current form.

Siraj is currently with India A playing four-day matches. In his first match against Windies A, he took 8 wickets in the game which helped India A to record a win from behind as they had conceded a 110 run lead in the first innings. In his second match of the tour against England Lions which is currently in progress, he took 4 wickets which included that of Malan, Woakes, Sam Curran and Dominic Bess. All these players have represented England in the longest format. Siraj has the extra pace and can swing the ball as well. These things might go in his favor and he might be picked in the Indian squad as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah.

#1 Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini was the leading wicket-taker for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy

Navdeep Saini is a good young Indian fast bowler from Delhi. He consistently bowls over 140 KMPH. He had a stellar Ranji Season for Delhi which helped them reach the Final. He took 34 wickets in just 8 games at an average of 22.74. He too is currently with the India A team which is playing four-day games.

In the game against Windies A, Saini picked up 4 wickets. He was picked in the auction by RCB but unfortunately didn’t get a game. He has been performing consistently for the last 2-3 years in the domestic circuit. He is the frontrunner in the race for the replacement because he was named as the replacement for Mohammad Shami when he failed the Yo-Yo Test for the one-off Test against Afghanistan.