Following India’s painful five-wicket defeat to England in the opening Test at Headingley, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that the team management would not deviate from their pre-decided strategy of playing Jasprit Bumrah in only three Tests out of the five-match series.
India suffers defeat in Headingley despite Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling
This plan, shaped in coordination with Bumrah himself, was aimed at preserving the premier fast bowler’s fitness for the long term, especially after his return from a serious back injury. Bumrah had made it clear to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the series that he wouldn’t be able to feature in all five matches and even turned down the captaincy offer to avoid any complications in the playing XI if he had to be rested midway. Despite his exceptional performance at Headingley, a first-innings five-wicket haul (5/83) and intense spells in the second innings, India’s bowling fell flat overall, and the rest of the pace attack combined for underwhelming figures of 9/482 in 92 overs. This discrepancy has only intensified the spotlight on when and where Bumrah should play next.
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Ravi Shastri names the two Tests he expects Bumrah to play against England
Speaking on Sky Sports, former India coach Ravi Shastri offered his take on how India might manage Bumrah’s limited appearances. “Bumrah said he’ll play three Test matches. Now, which of the three he’ll play, that’s another question to be asked,” Shastri remarked, addressing the uncertainty around Bumrah’s rotation. He suggested that Bumrah could skip the second Test at Edgbaston and make his return for the third Test at Lord’s, a venue of historical and emotional significance for Indian players. “I think if he takes a break, it’ll be the next one, because he’ll definitely want to play at Lord’s, right?” the former Indian cricketer added.
Shastri outlined the series schedule further, noting, “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 Oval,” However, he concluded with a word of caution: “It could be 2-0 down. So that is the problem. I think he has got to play,” Shastri’s remarks signifies the critical nature of Bumrah’s presence, especially with India already trailing, and hint that while workload management remains essential, the urgency of turning the series around could compel the team to reconsider his rest phases more dynamically.
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