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Injured Bumrah to miss fourth Test: report

3 minute read

Jasprit Bumrah will reportedly be an enforced omission for the Test series decider in Brisbane, having been one of several fresh injury concerns for India.

AJINKYA RAHANE
AJINKYA RAHANE Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Mohammed Siraj is set to lead India's pace attack in just his third Test as the tourists prepare to rule spearhead Jasprit Bumrah out of the Gabba series decider.

Bumrah is expected to join a stack of Indian stars who are unavailable for the winner-takes-all series finale that starts in Brisbane on Friday.

Multiple Indian outlets are reporting that the depleted touring party's injury crisis has deepened.

Bumrah received treatment for a minor abdominal strain at the SCG but continued to bowl.

India do not want risk playing the game-breaking paceman at the Gabba, especially given his importance during an upcoming home Test series against England.

Opener Mayank Agarwal, who loomed as a likely inclusion for hamstrung batsman Hanuma Vihari in a rejigged order, is now getting scans on a hand injury.

The visitors are scrambling to sort an XI for the the high-stakes clash, which comes with the four-Test series locked at 1-1 after Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin helped salvage draw in Sydney.

India will likely have enough reserves on deck to field a side.

However, the prospect of support staff putting on the whites could become more than a gag if there are further injuries or a situation that requires a concussion or COVID substitute.

Australia's quarantine policy means that coach Ravi Shastri can't call up any last-minute reinforcements from home.

Regular skipper Virat Kohli, who welcomed the birth of his first child late on Monday night, headlines the list of unavailable talent.

India have been weakened by the absence of quicks Mohammed Shami (arm), Umesh Yadav (calf), Ishant Sharma (side) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (thigh).

Batsman KL Rahul has returned home with a wrist injury, while Vihari (hamstring) and Ravindra Jadeja (thumb) are likely to be enforced omissions for the fourth Test.

Ashwin (back), Rishabh Pant (arm) and Cheteshwar Pujara (finger) pushed through the pain barrier at the SCG, earning praise from skipper Ajinkya Rahane.

Siraj, who made his Test debut in Melbourne and was targeted with alleged racial abuse by some crowd members in Sydney, will be India's most experienced fast bowler at the Gabba.

It comes as Cricket Australia continue to probe verbals that were directed at Siraj.

Navdeep Saini, fresh from his Test debut, is expected to back up in Brisbane.

"They did really well (at the SCG)," Rahane said of Siraj and Saini.

Shardul Thakur, whose one Test came in 2018, and would-be debutant Thangarasu Natarajan are vying for the final spot in the attack.

Rahane praised his hobbled team for digging deep in the third Test.

"I'm really proud as a captain of each individual," he said.

"Injuries are a thing you can't control.

"Our talk in the middle and in the dressing room was if we need you to bat, you have to bat.

"Credit to Hanuma, Ashwin was struggling, and Jadeja was padded up.

"It shows their character."

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