With India looking to bounce back in the five-match series after a heavy defeat in the opener at Headingley, many expected their star pacer to lead the attack. However, he has been rested.
Bumrah bowled 43.4 overs in the first Test, putting in a significant shift. While he picked up a brilliant five-wicket haul in the first innings, he went wicketless in the second. Given his recent history with injuries, concerns about workload management have surfaced again.
Before the series began, head coach Gautam Gambhir had already hinted that Bumrah would be carefully managed and play only three of the five Tests in England.
At the toss, Indian captain Shubman Gill confirmed Bumrah’s exclusion and explained the reasoning:
“It’s all about managing his workload. Yes, this is an important Test, but we feel the third Test at Lord’s might offer more for the bowlers. We were tempted to play Kuldeep, but after our lower order struggled in the last match, we wanted to strengthen our batting depth. It’s been a chaotic year, maybe that changes our luck here.”
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had also mentioned on Monday that a final decision on Bumrah would be taken at the last minute. Ultimately, the team opted to give him a rest, bringing in Akash Deep as his replacement.
There were other changes too—Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar came in for Shardul Thakur and Sai Sudharsan.
Interestingly, Edgbaston holds a special place in Bumrah’s career. He captained India here in the 2022 Test—his debut as skipper. That match ended in disappointment for India as England chased down a record 378-run target with centuries from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.
Why Jasprit Bumrah Might Be Rested for the Edgbaston Test Against England
Historically, Edgbaston hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for India. They’ve never won a Test at the venue in eight attempts since 1967, managing only one draw back in 1986 under Kapil Dev’s leadership.
After England chased down 371 in Leeds with ease, India’s bowling has come under scrutiny. Add to that a misfiring lower order and sloppy fielding, and the pressure is firmly on the visitors. If Ben Stokes’ side wins again, India’s hopes of turning the series around will hang by a thread.
