IND vs ENG: Jasprit Bumrah out, Kuldeep Yadav in! A new-look bowling attack to be fielded in 5th Test against England | Cricket News
India head into the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 with the series already out of their grasp. Trailing 1-2, the best outcome the visitors can hope for is a drawn series as they face England one last time on this tour, starting Thursday at The Oval in London.Injuries have disrupted India’s plans, with Rishabh Pant ruled out and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to feature. Amid this, former India opener Wasim Jaffer has proposed his ideal XI, with a couple of strategic calls, most notably, the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav.
The wrist-spinner hasn’t played a single match on this tour but is understood to be in good shape, prompting calls from fans and experts alike for his inclusion.Jaffer’s XI leans on India’s solid batting line-up, with no major changes apart from Dhruv Jurel stepping in for the injured Pant. KL Rahul continues to shine at the top, currently the second-highest run-scorer of the series, with two centuries and two fifties in four Tests. Sai Sudharsan, who impressed at No. 3 in Manchester, retains his place, followed by skipper Shubman Gill, already boasting a record 722 runs in the series.Jaffer sees no need for a fourth pacer, instead opting for a three-man spin unit of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja and Sundar, key figures in India’s fightback during the drawn Manchester Test, bring depth with both bat and ball.With Bumrah sidelined, Jaffer’s pace attack features Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh, young quicks tasked with delivering under pressure. It’s a bold and balanced lineup aimed at finishing the series on a high and returning home with honours even.All eyes now turn to The Oval, where India will fight not for a trophy, but for pride.England’s XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
