India's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has addressed two significant talking points arising from the ongoing fifth and final Test against England at The Oval: the resting of premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the unfortunate run-out of captain Shubman Gill.
Bumrah's absence from the crucial Test, where India is aiming to level the series, has raised eyebrows, particularly given the helpful conditions for seamers at The Oval. Ten Doeschate explained the decision, stating, "I think it's quite a complex issue around Bumrah". He emphasized the importance of respecting Bumrah's physical well-being and workload management, especially considering his recent return from a back injury. The medical team advised rest, keeping future tournaments in mind.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Bumrah had bowled 120 overs in the three previous Test matches. There was a pre-existing plan for Bumrah to only play three of the five Tests. While head coach Gautam Gambhir initially suggested all bowlers were fit, Bumrah's reduced pace and visible discomfort during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, where he conceded over 100 runs for the first time in a Test innings, raised concerns. The percentage of his deliveries exceeding 140kph had also significantly decreased throughout the series. Akash Deep, who missed the fourth Test due to a groin niggle, replaced Bumrah in the playing XI. Some reports also suggested that Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh could be potential replacements.
Ten Doeschate acknowledged that Bumrah's presence would have been impactful but emphasized the need to prioritize his long-term fitness. He said it "wasn't worth including him in the squad". He also noted that Bumrah had declared his availability for only three games before the tour. Ten Doeschate also clarified that there was no precise method to determine which matches Bumrah would miss in the series.
Turning to Shubman Gill's run-out, Ten Doeschate lamented the dismissal, describing it as a "misjudgment of a run". Gill was batting fluently, and his dismissal was a significant blow to India's innings. Gill, who had looked in fine touch, was dismissed for 21 after a poor decision. Gill pushed the ball, took off for a single that wasn't there, and then froze midway as Gus Atkinson swooped in and nailed a direct hit. It was a self-inflicted wound.
Despite the setback, Ten Doeschate defended the 25-year-old, acknowledging his "touch of his life" and stating that he "made batting look really easy" during his innings. He insisted that Gill's overall impact on the series, where he surpassed Sunil Gavaskar's record for most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series, far outweighs the momentary lapse. Gill now has 737 runs in nine innings, averaging 92.12 with four centuries.
The incident occurred in the 28th over when Gill attempted a quick single after defending a delivery to short cover. Atkinson collected the ball cleanly and hit the stumps with Gill well short of his ground.
India ended the first day at 204/6, with Karun Nair (52) and Washington Sundar (19) at the crease. Ten Doeschate expressed hope that the team could reach 300, considering it a competitive score.
