Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will not be part of the upcoming third Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai, which starts on Friday. With India trailing 0-2 in the series, the decision to rest Bumrah comes as the team prepares for the intense five-match series against Australia. According to Indian Express, Bumrah has already returned to Ahmedabad and will rejoin the team for the Australia tour on November 10. In his absence, Mohammed Siraj is expected to step in for the final Test.

A source mentioned to Indian Express, “He won’t be playing the Mumbai Test and has flown back home. The Indian team management wanted him to take some rest so that he could recover his body.”

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir: T20 Format Impacting Batters’ Defence, Not Spin Skills

Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, addressed questions regarding Indian batters’ ability to face spin, an issue highlighted by their recent 113-run defeat on a spin-friendly pitch in Pune. Gambhir refuted the idea that Indian players’ skills against spin have weakened, attributing the challenges more to the shift in mindset from T20 cricket.

“I don’t think our skill against spin has gone down,” Gambhir said. He acknowledged Mitchell Santner’s excellent bowling in the last game, but emphasized that Indian players are working hard in practice to improve. He added, “It’s the results that matter in international cricket, but we’re putting in the hard yards in the nets and focusing on constant improvement.”