Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler, has returned to red-ball cricket with a bang. He recently battled through a long absence due to a back injury. In his debut Test match after a long injury layoff since January, his 19-over spell without a wicket was particularly grueling. He unashamedly performed at Headingley. His match figures of 5/83 earned him the Man of the Match award, and he was hailed as the best bowler from India during the first innings.
For the first time, Bumrah showed real promise. Rather than risk him through all five Tests against England this summer, India has decided to restrict him to no more than three. This decision is to help him adjust to what his new workload will be coming back from his four-month absence from injury. Gautam Gambhir, India’s coach, affirmed that this plan would not change, even in light of the team’s defeat in the series opener.
For gambhir, this meant accepting that Roi should care more about Bumrah’s long-term health and performance than it does about immediate outcomes. And for us to be able to control what his workload looks like that’s a lot more important. There is a great deal of cricket to come,” he added. Even amid India’s problems, Bumrah is still a vital ace in India’s hand in all three formats, possessing his place on the apex of worldwide bowling ratings.
India looked ahead now to the second Test against England. With the opening Test starting on July 2 at Edgbaston, that would give the team a mere seven days to reset. Which two of the other three Tests Bumrah will play is still to be decided. Gambhir noted, “Let’s see how his body turns up. We haven’t decided which two other matches he is going to play.”
Even without taking a wicket in his last outing, Bumrah’s skill set was obviously greater than that of his peers. Gambhir praised the contributions of other bowlers, stating, “Prasidh bowled really well and got us crucial wickets.”
India’s approach will focus on ensuring Bumrah’s fitness and readiness for the demanding series ahead. The short timeline is definitely a double-edged sword. There are just three days off between the end of the second Test and the third Test at Lord’s.
Leave a Reply