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SPORTS NOVEMBER 08, 2024 | The Indian Eye 44

After back-to-back losses,

Gambhir points out reason for

team’s performance

The news of Jasprit Bumrah missing the match came shortly after

head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that all players were available for selection,

downplaying concerns about Bumrah not bowling during practice

OUR BUREAU Thursday.
“I think we know how the weath-
Mumbai
er is in Mumbai, so obviously he needs
ndia head coach Gautam Gam- to conserve his energy as well. So he’s
bhir on Thursday pointed out rea- done his bowling, he’s prepared really
Isons for recent trend of teams los- well, and he’s fine. That’s why he’s a
ing at home in Tests and said that it is senior player, he knows how much he
because of the pressure of the World needs to prepare for the Test match,”
Test Championship (WTC) points. he said, according to ESPNcricinfo.
India will be looking to saving Bumrah has played all four Tests
their pride as they take on Kiwis in of the home season so far, bowling
the third Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede the third-most overs (90) and taking
Stadium. With the hosts being 0-2 the third-most wickets (14). Recently
down in the three-match series and appointed as the team’s vice-captain,
having endured their first series loss he is expected to lead the team at the
in Tests at home in 12 years, they will start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
be aiming to play out of their skins in in November, as Rohit Sharma is like-
order to avoid an embarassing white- ly to miss the first Test due to personal
wash. reasons. Given his key role as the lead-
Speaking at the pre-match press ing bowler, India wants Bumrah to be
conference, Gambhir said that every fully fit for the upcoming five-Test se-
match is important for him. He add- ries, which starts on November 18 and
ed that teams are losing at home Tests runs until January 7.
because of the pressure of T20 cricket. During the two days of training
“For me, WTC points are very at the Wankhede, there were no clear
important. Every Test match is im- signs from the team management that
portant. There are no dead rubbers Bumrah would miss the match. As-
anymore. It has lot to do with T20 sistant coach Abhishek Nayar even
cricket. Gone are the days of draws noted that India’s recent Tests haven’t
because the quality of batters and gone the full distance, implying that
hitting has went up. Matches will be Bumrah’s workload was not a con-
more result-oriented now. It is the cern.
combination of being pressure due to The pitch at the Wankhede is not
WTC points and T20I cricket,” Gam- expected to offer much help to fast
bhir said. bowlers. The red soil should provide
In the second Test, NZ opted to Jasprit Bumrah in action in a Test match (ANI) good bounce, and the early-morning
bat first and half-centuries from Dev- moisture combined with the new ball
on Conway (76) and Rachin Ravin- the run chase of 359 runs, India was Although Bumrah does not have might offer a brief opportunity for fast
dra (65) helped the Kiwis reach 259 skittled out for 245, despite a fight put an injury, it is unclear whether the bowlers to make an impact.
after Washington Sundar (7/59) de- on by Yashasvi Jaiswal (77). India lost team management decided to rest However, it is the spinners who
livered an incredible comeback spell by 114 runs and NZ won the series 2-0. him or if Bumrah himself requested are likely to play a more significant
to destroy the Kiwi middle order. In Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah was the rest, according to ESPNcricinfo. role. With India already losing the
their first innings, India posted just not part of the third and final Test The news of Bumrah potentially series 2-0--marking their first home
156 runs, with spinner Mitchell Sant- against New Zealand in Mumbai. missing the match came shortly after series defeat in 12 years--the final Test
ner taking 7/53 and Ravindra Jadeja While Bumrah was present when the head coach Gautam Gambhir stated is effectively a dead rubber, though
top-scoring with 38 runs. In their sec- team started training at the Wankhede that all players were available for se- there are valuable World Test Cham-
ond innings, with the help of skipper Stadium on Wednesday, he only par- lection, downplaying concerns about pionship (WTC) points at stake. India
Tom Latham’s 86, NZ posted 255/10, ticipated in light fitness exercises and Bumrah not bowling during practice. is currently at the top of the WTC ta-
with Washington picking four wickets fielding drills, without bowling in ei- “I think he [Bumrah] is just done ble and is competing for a spot in the
and Ravindra Jadeja getting three. In ther of the training sessions. his preparations,” Gambhir said on final at Lord’s in June 2025.

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