India vs England, 3rd Test: Jasprit Bumrah fit, Rishabh Pant may replace Dinesh Karthik

The Indian team management may ring in a couple of changes for the third Test against England in their bid to launch a comeback in the ongoing series which they currently trail 0-2. The two names doing the rounds, who are likely to be included in the playing XI, include fit-again paceman Jasprit Bumrah and uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.

Ahead of the start of the five-match series in England, the world no. 1 India were confident of improving on their past performances in the country. However, two weeks since the opening Test at Edgbaston, Virat Kohli‘s men have been found struggling and the manner in which their batsmen surrendered at Lord’s has drawn wide criticism.

Bumrah hurt his finger during the first T20I against Ireland last month and has been recuperating from it. He was reportedly fit to bowl ahead of the second Test but as a precautionary, he was given more time to fully recover. India went on to lose the match by an innings and 159 runs.

Bumrah made his Test debut in January on South African tour earlier this year where he impressed with 14 wickets in three Tests at an average of 25.21.

According to several reports, Bumrah, in all likeliness, will play the third Test at Trendt Bridge that starts from August 18. Provided the pitch doesn’t provide assistance to the spinners, young chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav will be the likely casualty in the event of Bumrah making the cut.

Pant could replace wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik who has failed to get going. Even though Indian batsmen have endured collective failure barring skipper Kohli, Karthik, who has scored 0, 20, 1 and 0 across four innings in England on the ongoing tour, will have to make way for the young Pant who has a first-class average of 54.50 with four centuries and eight fifties.

Two years ago, the then 19-year-old Pant became the fourth youngest triple-centurion in first-class history while playing for Delhi in Ranji Trophy. More recently, while touring with India A, he peeled off impressive scores against England Lions and West Indies A last month.