On Day 3 of the fourth Test match between India and England, Jasprit Bumrah gave fans a big scare by walking off the field after bowling just one over with the second new ball in the post-lunch session. The star fast bowler did not return immediately, leaving fans and commentators concerned.
Mohammed Siraj and Anshul Kamboj had to continue in his absence, while Bumrah was seen sitting near the boundary with his teammates. Ravi Shastri, who was on commentary, shared that Bumrah had twisted his ankle while walking down the stairs. “He is shaking his head there. Don’t think he is too pleased. That is the left ankle. He twisted his ankle coming down the stairs,” Shastri said.
Concerns Grow Over Bumrah’s Fitness
The situation appeared more serious when Ricky Ponting, observing Bumrah’s gear, added, “He changed his boots as well. I noticed that when he did bowl that one over, he had a pair of boots that were blue and white, very different to what I see here.” This change hinted that he was trying to adjust due to discomfort.
Shastri further explained, “He definitely doesn’t look comfortable; that is his landing foot. If he has his ankle strapped, he probably needs a bigger boot size there. Also, what I am hearing now is that although he is out on the field, Bumrah will not be allowed to bowl till after tea. Now that’s another big problem, which means India will have to look at spin pretty quickly, and that too Washington Sundar.” This suggested that the team might need to rely more on spin options in his absence.
Pant’s Injury Adds To India’s Troubles
The injury to Bumrah was not India’s only concern. Earlier in the match, Rishabh Pant was hit on the foot by a delivery from Chris Woakes. Though Pant bravely continued and even scored a half-century, his injury meant he couldn’t take up wicket-keeping duties.
As a result, Dhruv Jurel had to step in as the stand-in keeper for the rest of the innings. Both these injuries to key players have put India in a tough position. However, there was a bit of relief for fans as Bumrah eventually returned to the field after Tea and bowled a few overs, giving hope that the injury might not be too serious.
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