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- By Gurmeet Batra
- Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs England 5th Test: India captain Shubman Gill took the safe guard as he kept the cards close to his chest about pace ace Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.
Ahead of the 5th Test encounter, the photos of The Oval pitch surfaced online, showing that the track has green-tinged grass, and this prompted the team to assess all options carefully.
Bumrah has bowled 119.4 overs in the series, ranking third among India's bowlers behind Mohammed Siraj (139) and Ravindra Jadeja (136.1), and the veteran speedster will likely be rested for the last Test as a precaution.
"We will take a decision tomorrow," Gill said in the pre-match press conference.
"Wicket looks very green. So let's see."Gill confirmed that left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has been asked to be ready and could make his Test debut if Bumrah is rested.
"He has been told to be prepared. We will take a call on the final XI after assessing the pitch later today," the captain said.
India are considering Arshdeep as a possible replacement for Bumrah, who is yet to make his Test debut but was rested in the fourth Test that ended in a draw in Manchester.
Gill also addressed the team's spin options, saying India are satisfied going in with all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, even though England have not picked a frontline spinner.
"We are confident in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to handle spin duties effectively," Gill said the 2-2 result would be a good outcome for the team, considering the high level of competition throughout the series.
"After four days, it was often hard to predict a winner. Every match has been very close. It's been a good learning experience for us and we are hopeful of finishing on a high," Gill also downplayed the on-field tensions between the two sides.