ENG vs IND 2025: Bad news for Team India! After Rishabh Pant, this bowler will also not play the Oval Test match

The Indian cricket team is facing a tough time in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series against England. As the series reaches a crucial point, problems for Team India continue to grow. Just when the team was already hit by the absence of star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for the fifth and final Test, now another blow has been dealt. A senior and experienced fast bowler will also not be available for the upcoming match at Kennington Oval, scheduled to begin on July 31, 2025. Interestingly, this time the player is not out due to injury but will miss the match due to another important reason — workload management. The player in question is none other than India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), their medical team has advised Bumrah to rest and skip the final match of the series. This decision has been taken with the long-term health of Bumrah in mind, particularly to protect his back from the risk of overuse and injury. The medical team believes that giving Bumrah a break now will ensure that he remains available and fit for the upcoming important tournaments and tours.

Bumrah has already played three matches in the current Test series, and it was earlier communicated by the team management that he might not feature in all five matches due to workload concerns. The fourth Test match at Old Trafford had already seen Bumrah sitting out due to fitness management, and the same approach will be followed in the fifth and final Test. This decision, while understandable, has made things more difficult for Team India, which currently trails 1-2 in the five-match series. With one match ending in a draw and two losses against one win, India now needs to win the final Test to end the series in a draw and avoid a home series defeat. The absence of Bumrah and Pant, two of India’s most important players in recent years, means that the team will have to depend on younger and less experienced players to step up under pressure.

To fill the gap left by Bumrah, young pace bowler Akashdeep will return to the playing XI for the final Test. Akashdeep was unavailable for the fourth Test due to fitness concerns but is expected to be fully ready for the Oval match. He will likely be joined by left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, who could make his debut in Test cricket. Arshdeep might replace Anshul Kamboj in the playing XI. If selected, this will be Arshdeep's first-ever appearance for India in the longest format of the game, adding more excitement and expectations for the young bowler. With India under pressure to win, the performance of these new players will be closely watched by fans and cricket experts alike.

Despite the challenges, Team India still has several talented and capable players who can lead the charge. According to reports, the probable playing XI for the fifth Test will be: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Akashdeep, and Kuldeep Yadav. The batting will rely heavily on the top order and the all-rounders, while the bowling attack will be led by Siraj, with support from the spin duo of Jadeja and Kuldeep and the young fast bowlers. It remains to be seen how India will perform in this high-stakes match without some of its key players. However, the team’s spirit, resilience, and the hunger to finish the series strongly will surely drive them to give their best on the field.