With a resounding 434-run win over England in the third Test in Rajkot, India head into the next match with a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah led the wicket-taking charts with his exemplary display in all three Tests thus far. Bumrah's back-breaking work is likely to earn him a break in the upcoming Test in Ranchi, in line with the workload management program. In the second Test in Visakhapatnam, India had rested seamer Mohammed Siraj. READ: Railways record highest successful chase in Ranji Trophy history The 30-year-old Bumrah turned the Vizag Test in India's favour with nine wickets, including a brilliant six for 45 in the first innings during an eventual 106-run win. Bumrah has bowled 80.5 overs in the series, snapping up 17 wickets at an average of 13.65. With Bumrah likely to head into the break, India could rope in a replacement keeping the nature of the Ranchi pitch in mind. Traditionally, a surface where the spinners come into play, India could replace Bumrah with an additional tweaker or a medium pacer with Siraj helming the attack. Here is a look at India's options for Bumrah's replacement in the Ranchi Test: Mukesh Kumar The 30-year-old Bengal pacer has had a quiet run in his three Tests so far. Mukesh had lowly returns during India's win (1/70 in two innings) in Vizag and was subsequently released for Bengal's last Ranji Trophy league match. Super Sixfer 👌Mukesh Kumar bowled a brilliant spell of 6/32 in the 2nd innings, taking 10 wickets in the match, to help Bengal beat Bihar by an innings and 204 runs 🙌Relive 📽️ his fantastic spell 🔽 @IDFCFIRSTBank | #RanjiTrophy Scorecard pic.twitter.com/eEAyV9TLSR— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 18, 2024 Returning to his favoured conditions at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Mukesh recorded the maiden First-Class ten-wicket match haul (10/50) of his career, including career-best figures of six for 32 against Bihar. Known to operate well on two-paced tracks, Mukesh could make his way back into the XI in place of Bumrah, should India opt for a seam-for-seam replacement. Akash Deep Having bagged his maiden India call-up after the second Test of the series, Akash Deep could also be in the mix as a seam option alongside Siraj for the Ranchi Test. The 27-year-old Bengal quick had recently picked up 10 wickets from two red-ball games for India A against the touring England Lions team in Ahmedabad. Together with Mukesh, Akash has been a lead figure for Bengal in red-ball cricket in recent years. Akash has amassed 104 wickets from 30 First-Class games, averaging 23.58. Axar Patel or Washington Sundar If India find the Ranchi strip to aid spin from the opening day of the Test on Friday, Rohit Sharma and Co. could well opt for an extra spinner. During their colossal defeat in England, the aggressive batting unit succumbed dramatically against spin as local boy Ravindra Jadeja skimmed through the batting order with his 13th five-wicket haul. Should spin come into play, India could opt for left-arm spinner Axar Patel or offie Washington Sundar in Bumrah's spot. While Axar (133 runs and five wickets) was dropped for the third Test to accomodate variety in the spin department, Sundar has not featured in a Test in almost three years since England's last tour to the Indian subcontinent.
