New Delhi: Cricket fans are buzzing with anticipation about Jasprit Bumrah’s return to Test cricket. India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has finally addressed the speculation regarding the star pacer’s availability for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, set to begin on October 2.
Ahead of India’s Super Four clash, Ten Doeschate indicated that it’s highly improbable that Bumrah will be rested for the series.
He stated, “It’s unlikely that Bumrah will be rested. He’s set to play the West Indies Tests. We’ve got important matches coming up, and it’s good for him to keep playing and get more match time.”
The Test series will kick off on October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with the second and final Test scheduled from October 10 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
While acknowledging India’s impressive unbeaten streak in the Asia Cup, Ten Doeschate also highlighted the team’s commitment to continuous improvement, even after their convincing victories over Pakistan.
He explained, “We were a bit scrappy against Pakistan. We weren’t clinical enough. The last week has been tough, but the way the boys played in those two games was amazing. Abu Dhabi wasn’t ideal — it took us longer to travel and recover. Shubman also didn’t get the preparation he wanted, he was keen on getting some practice in.”
The assistant coach further elaborated on India’s strategic approach to player rotation.
He added, “We tried giving everyone a chance against Oman. In bilateral series you can test bench strength, but in the Asia Cup it’s more difficult.”