ENG vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah likely to lead India in 5th Test if Rohit Sharma fails to recover in time

Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead India in the rescheduled 5th Test, starting July 1, against England in Birmingham if captain Rohit Sharma fails to recover in time from Covid-19. Rohit tested Covid positive on Saturday, June 25, and has been in isolation ever since.

Bumrah, who was named India's Test vice-captain in South Africa earlier this year, has been informed by the team management about him playing the 5th Test as stand-in captain. Notably, Bumrah will become the first fast bowler since the legendary Kapil Dev to lead India in the longest format of the game.

A call on Rohit Sharma's availability is set to be taken on the eve of the Test match. Rohit will undergo another round of Covid-19 testing on Thursday but it's unlikely that he will be ready for the much-anticipated 5th Test, a spillover from



last year's series.

Notably, Rohit Sharma led India in the 4-day practice match against Leicestershire which got underway on June 23. Rohit batted for India in the first innings, scoring 25 in a steady opening partnership with Shubman Gill. However, he did not come out to open the innings for India in the second innings, helping raise eyebrows.

The BCCI said on June 25 that Rohit went into isolation at the team hotel in Leicestershire after his Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19 returned a positive result.

Rohit was India's highest run-getter in the Test series against England which remained incomplete after the 5th Test, scheduled in Manchester, was postponed due to Covid-19 concerns in the Indian camp in September 2021. Rohit hit a hundred and 2 fifties to take his tally to 368 runs.