India have not ruled out Bumrah for final test
India snatched an unlikely draw in the fourth test at Old Trafford on Sunday but trail the hosts 2-1 in the five-match series. 'We haven't had any conversation around the combination for the last test,' Gambhir said. '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.'
India captain Shubman Gill suggested it might be left up to Bumrah to make the call.
'If he feels like he's fully fit and available for us, I think it would be a great deal for us,' Gill told the BBC. India went into the fourth test with a depleted bowling attack having rested the injured pace duo of Akash Deep (groin) and Arshdeep Singh (hand).
Bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy had already returned home after a knee injury cut short his tour. Anshul Kamboj made his test debut in Manchester but Gambhir said they would have a full set of fit bowlers at their disposal for the test at the Oval, which begins on Thursday.
'All the fast bowlers are fit,' Gambhir said. 'There are no injury concerns.' However, India will be without stumper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been ruled out of the series finale after fracturing his foot while batting in India's first innings in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer at risk of a fresh injury if they select him for the fifth and final match against India at the Oval this week, according to former test players Stuart Broad and Nasser Hussain.
Archer is taking part in his first test series in four years after overcoming elbow and back injuries.
The 30-year-old sat out the first two matches before claiming five wickets in his return to the format at Lord's and four in the drawn Manchester test. While India could draw the series with a win at the Oval, Broad told Sky Sports that England should prioritize Archer's long-term fitness. 'We cannot have Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years,' he said.
'(Josh) Tongue started the series, and I know he mainly got lower-order players out, but you probably have a natural replacement for Archer.' England have added fast bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton to their tiring pace battery. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have played all four tests, while skipper Ben Stokes said he would 'run through a brick wall' to try to be available for the final test beginning on Thursday.
Gus Atkinson and Tongue are likely to feature in the decisive final test, and England are likely to rest Archer with the Ashes series against Australia in four months' time. 'I don't think you can have Archer playing three on the bounce coming back after four years,' former England captain Hussain told Sky Sports.
'Gus Atkinson coming back after a long time, and then Stokes with a niggle as three of your four seamers - but I would definitely play Atkinson on his home ground if fit.'— Agencies
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