Ahmedabad: Look ahead at the hectic home schedule Team India decided to rest their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the last Test of the series against England. This decision has opened up a window for Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj to play in the fourth Test. As the pitch is going to support spinners the hosts are likely to pick experience Umesh or young Siraj.
Yadav, 33, who limped off the field during the second Test against Australia in Melbourne in December and is yet to play a Test since then was named in India squad for the third and fourth Test after he recovered.
India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane on Tuesday said that the right-arm pace bowler is shaping up well.
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"Umesh is ready to go. He is looking really good, bowling really well. He had good sessions in the nets. Really happy that he is back," Rahane told the media on Tuesday.
Yadav's ability to get reverse swing can help him make the side ahead of Siraj, who though has also been impressive in his first four Tests he played in Australia and in Chennai when Bumrah was rested. Siraj can bowl long spells tirelessly and keep troubling the batsmen with his tight bowling.
However, with not much bowling from pace bowlers required on a surface that is likely to assist spinners again and a need to have a bowler who can reverse the ball, Yadav looks a prime candidate to make the playing XI.
Yadav has tremendous experience in India and his performance in home Tests has been very impressive.
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He has taken 96 of his 148 Test wickets in 28 Tests at an average of 24.54 which is better than his career bowling average of 30.54.
