Bumrah back for Dharamsala Test

India’s bowling spearhead, Jaasprit Bumrah, who was given a break for the Ranchi Test to manage his workload, will return for the Dharamsala Test as India’s designated vice-captain.

The BCCI confirmed as much on Thursday (February 29), naming a 16-player squad for the final Test of the England series, which starts on March 7.

While KL Rahul was ruled out, allrounder Washington Sundar was not part of the 16, released from the squad to join his state side, Tamil Nadu, who will be playing Mumbai from March 2 to 6 for a spot in the Ranji Trophy final.

Washington will "join the India squad after the completion of the domestic fixture, for the fifth Test, if need be," the BCCI statement said.

Bumrah was released from the squad for the fourth Test against England, in Ranchi, to allow him to rest. India won that Test, thereby sealing the series against England 3-1 with one to play. Despite missing that game, Bumrah is India's joint-highest wicket-taker in the series, with 17 wickets at 13.64 from the first three games.

While the series is already decided, India and England still have World Test Championship points to play for in Dharamsala. India currently sit second on that points table, with England down at eighth.

India squad for Dharamsala Test

Rohit Sharma (capt), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep

(With inputs from espncricinfo.com)