India vs England Tests: Will he, won't he? The Jasprit Bumrah dilemma!
TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham:
Before they commence preparations for the second Test vs England from July 2, the
Indian cricket team
need to take that tough
Jasprit Bumrah
call. Well before the side arrived in the UK for the five-match series, it was decided that the ace seamer will only play three Tests to manage his body and workload.
Which ones weren't revealed at that stage by chairman of men's senior selection committee
Ajit Agarkar
, and Bumrah maintained the three Test bit in an interview with Sky Sports without revealing too many details. So did head coach Gautam Gambhir during the post-match presser in Leeds.
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Bumrah sent down 44 overs during the Headingley Test and while the side is enjoying a two-day break in Birmingham, the team management, and the seamer himself, need to take that rest call.
There is little turnaround time between the second and third Test and there will be a strong temptation to play him at Lord's from July 10. If he continues to play at Birmingham, playing the third Test goes out of the window because there will be only a four-day gap before he wears the whites again.
Taking a cue from the schedule and Gambhir's comments in the press conference, there is a bright possibility of the second Test being the break fixture for the star seamer.
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The head coach had said that the series scoreline will not affect which Tests Bumrah plays and misses, and that call will be taken based on his workload as they need to manage him better for the cricket which is ahead of them.
Poll
Should Jasprit Bumrah rest for the second Test in Birmingham?
Yes, he should take a break.
No, he should play to level the series.
Former India head coach Shastri felt it could be a tough call to take as there will be a temptation to have him play in Birmingham, and level the series, and also have an eye at Lord's.
'Bumrah said he'll play three Test matches.
Now, which of the three he'll play, that's, you know, another question to be asked. I think if he takes a break, it'll be the next one, because he'll definitely want to play at Lord's, right? And there's a break, and then you go into Lord's, then there's a break, and then there's a choice between Manchester and the same. It could be 2-0 down. So that is the problem. I think he has got to play,' Shastri said on Sky Sports Cricket.
Leeds to Birmingham: On the road with TOI Sports
But if the decision making remains on the expected lines - Bumrah missing Birmingham and staying fresh for Lord's - the other headache is going to be who replaces him for the second Test. India lacked bite, even with Bumrah, in the series opener and now a tough replacement call could await them.
Former England quick Stuart Broad wants Arshdeep Singh to be drafted in for Bumrah, and the calls for Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion are only getting louder because of what he brings to the table. The direction which the Indian cricket team takes will be clear in the next few days but one thing is for sure - it could be a new-look bowling attack which takes the field for the Birmingham Test.
IND vs ENG Series Schedule:
1st Test: England v India, 20-24 June 2025, Headingley, Leeds – England won by 5 wickets
2nd Test: England v India, 2-6 July 2025, Edgbaston, Birmingham
3rd Test: England v India, 10-14 July 2025, Lord's, London
4th Test: England v India, 23-27 July 2025, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Test: England v India, 31 July-4 August 2025, Kia Oval, London
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