Bumrah ruled out with knee swelling as England bat first in 3rd ODI decider at Lord's
Synopsis
India's biggest bowling threat is off the field before a ball is bowled. Bumrah's knee swelling failed a last-minute fitness test at Lord's, forcing India to reshuffle their attack for a series decider — with Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav stepping into a gap that will be very hard to fill on a surface England's captain has already called 'good.'
Key Takeaways
Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the 3rd ODI at Lord's on 19 July after failing a pre-match fitness test due to knee swelling .
Washington Sundar also absent with a hamstring strain ; Prince Yadav and Arshdeep Singh drafted in as replacements.
England won the toss and elected to bat first in the series decider.
KL Rahul returns as wicketkeeper-batter after missing the second ODI in Cardiff due to illness.
England made one change: Josh Tongue replaces Saqib Mahmood .
India captain Shubman Gill opted for four seamers , citing limited spin impact in the middle overs at Lord's.
Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the series-deciding third ODI against England at Lord's Cricket Ground on 19 July after failing a pre-match fitness test due to knee swelling, dealing India a significant blow ahead of the crucial clash. England won the toss and elected to bat first, setting up a high-stakes finish to the bilateral series.
Bumrah Fails Fitness Test at Lord's
Bumrah was put through a fitness assessment ahead of the coin toss but was unable to clear it, ending his participation in the decider. His absence compounds India's bowling concerns: Washington Sundar was already unavailable after being ruled out with a hamstring strain. To cover the twin losses, India have drafted in Prince Yadav and Arshdeep Singh.
This is a significant setback for a side that has leaned heavily on Bumrah's ability to take wickets at the top and in the death overs. Without him, the burden falls on Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Gurnoor Brar to contain England's formidable batting line-up on what is expected to be a batting-friendly surface.
India's Team Changes and Captain Gill's Thinking
KL Rahul returns to the playing XI after missing the second ODI in Cardiff due to illness, slotting back in as wicketkeeper-batter in place of Shivam Dube. India captain Shubman Gill explained the decision to field four seamers at Lord's, noting that spinners have offered limited returns in the middle overs at this venue.
'We were in a great position in Cardiff but then lost too many wickets in the middle overs so hopefully we can get good runs today. We think he's (Arshdeep) a great bowler, and we were looking for four seamers on this ground. We have seen in the middle overs, spinners don't really offer much as compared to the fast bowlers,' Gill said at the toss.
England's Approach and Their One Change
England have made one change of their own, bringing in Josh Tongue in place of Saqib Mahmood. Captain Harry Brook expressed confidence in batting first on what he described as a good surface, drawing on the lessons of the Cardiff match where Joe Root's innings set the tone.
'It looks a good surface so hopefully we can get runs on the board and put India under pressure. I thought we did really well in the middle overs to restrict India, while the way Joe Root batted set a great template. It would be beautiful to win and lift the trophy at the end of the day but we have to assess conditions and adapt,' Brook said.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
England: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue.
With the series level and the trophy on the line at one of cricket's most storied venues, both sides go into the match with something to prove — India without their most potent weapon, England buoyed by a home crowd and the memory of their Cardiff middle-overs performance.
Point of View
But Arshdeep and Prasidh Krishna have not consistently replicated Bumrah's ability to create pressure on good batting surfaces. If England post a large total, India's batting will need to do what it couldn't in Cardiff — hold firm in the middle overs.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the 3rd ODI at Lord's?
Bumrah was ruled out due to knee swelling after failing a fitness test conducted ahead of the toss at Lord's on 19 July. He had been assessed to check his readiness but was unable to clear the test and was subsequently excluded from the playing XI.
Who replaced Bumrah and Washington Sundar in India's playing XI?
Prince Yadav and Arshdeep Singh were brought into the side to cover for both Bumrah (knee swelling) and Washington Sundar (hamstring strain). India fielded four seamers as a result, with Arshdeep, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, and Prince Yadav forming the pace attack.
Who won the toss and why did England choose to bat first?
England won the toss and elected to bat first, with captain Harry Brook citing a good-looking surface and the intent to put India under pressure by posting a competitive total. Brook also referenced Joe Root's batting in Cardiff as the template England want to follow.
What changes did India make to their playing XI for the series decider?
India brought in Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav for the unavailable Bumrah and Sundar. KL Rahul also returned as wicketkeeper-batter, replacing Shivam Dube, after recovering from the illness that kept him out of the second ODI in Cardiff.
What is at stake in the 3rd ODI between India and England at Lord's?
The third ODI at Lord's on 19 July is the series decider, with both India and England level heading into the match. The winner takes the bilateral ODI series, with the trophy to be presented at the end of the day's play.
