NEWS
Follow UsIndia’s batting coach Vikram Rathour said Jasprit Bumrah is “physically fine” but deserved a break for the fourth Test in Ranchi, starting on Friday (February 22). The ace paceman has featured in all three Tests so far and has claimed 17 wickets @ 13.65 in 80.5 overs, the second-most for India in the ongoing series.
"I think every Test match is a crucial Test match, to be honest. With WTC points, every game is crucial. Even we would love Bumrah to play all the games, but unfortunately that is not very advisable because the kind of workload he has had in the last three games,” said Rathour.
"He has really bowled well and with a lot of heart, a lot of effort, and the kind of schedule we have in the future, it was felt by everybody involved that he should be given a break. And otherwise, he was fine absolutely. He was absolutely fine physically. But it was felt that it is better that he gets a break because there was hardly any turnaround time between the games.”
Rathour has also backed Rajat Patidar to come good after failing to make any impact in his first two games. The 30-year-old from Madhya Pradesh made his Test debut in Vizag and has managed only 46 runs across four innings. With KL Rahul still not available, there’s a possibility of India sticking with Patidar. However, the hosts also have an option of handing a debut to in-form Devdutt Padikkal.
"As far as having conversations with him (Patidar), yes, we have been having a lot of conversations with him but one thing he needs to understand is that this is how this game goes. He has been batting really well, he has scored a lot of runs to get into the team and doesn't become a bad player after two matches.
"He is a very good player. He has really batted well in whatever cricket he has played. He has had a few tough games, a few awkward dismissals where the ball has stopped on him, this can happen, this is how the game goes. Absolutely no doubt that he is a good player and on his day he will come up with a very impactful innings."
Rathour, however, heaped heavy praise on Ravindra Jadeja. The left-hander started the series with a knock of 87 in Hyderabad but had to miss the second Test due to hamstring. Jadeja returned for the third Test and crafted his fourth century after India were reduced to 33/3 in the first innings.
"Lately, I think what he's doing really well is, and that has been his strength in bowling as well, I think that's the kind of character he has - He keeps everything very simple. There is no complication. He's not overthinking, he's not overanalysing anything. He just does what the team requires at that stage. And that goes for his bowling and batting both. So, I think that is a great asset that he has. Keeping it really simple and executing his plans.”
Talking about the Ranchi surface, Rathour said: "Everytime we play in India, there's question mark on the pitch ... It's a typical Indian wicket, there are cracks, this wicket always had cracks. It will turn, but how much it will turn and from when we are not sure. But we have enough balance in our team."
