Jasprit Bumrah has been a key figure in India's success across formats in recent years, consistently emerging as a major threat to the opposition.
However, after sustaining a back injury during the Sydney Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January, his availability for the ongoing England series was limited to three out of the five Tests due to workload management.
With India losing the third Test at Lord's, they are now trailing 2-1 in the series and another defeat at Manchester would ensure England's triumph on home soil.
📲 Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp
In a match that India cannot afford to lose, Bumrah has to be fielded in the starting lineup to spearhead the bowling attack.
Former India cricketer's brutal take on uncertainty over Jasprit Bumrah
Ex-India star Salil Ankola has called for Bumrah to be included in the starting lineup in the fourth Test as resting the star bowler should not be even considered by the team management.
READ: Bumrah needs to be managed smartly' - Ex-India coach
Speaking Mid-Day, Ankola said: "If Bumrah is touring England as a team member, he definitely has to play the fourth Test; he has to play all the matches. Bumrah is definitely a match-winning bowler, but it’s not like we don’t have other bowlers.
"If he is unfit, don’t take him with the team. Let him be fully fit. You [team management] are also unsure and Bumrah is also unsure [whether to play or not]. So, who takes that call? It’s not the coach, it’s not the selectors, but it’s the physio and doctor."
The former cricketer added: "That means someone somewhere is not taking responsibility for doing their job right. I’m not criticising anybody, this is my opinion as a layman because I’m not in the selection committee."