Bumrah's Return to Nets Boosts India's Bowling Focus Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Bumrah Back in Action as India Fine-Tunes Bowling Attack for Edgbaston Test

Birmingham: Jasprit Bumrah, the star Indian pacer, was back in training on Saturday, signaling a renewed focus on bowling as Team India geared up for the crucial Edgbaston Test. After missing Friday’s initial session, Bumrah’s return to the nets sparked considerable interest, especially amid lingering doubts about his participation in the second Test against England.

Following a five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which put them 0-1 down in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the Indian squad immediately commenced preparations on Friday. While the entire team participated in practice, the absence of Bumrah and fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna from active drills raised concerns about their readiness for the Birmingham Test.

However, Saturday brought a positive turn as Bumrah, Prasidh, and Mohammed Siraj were all seen bowling at the nets. Siraj also continued his batting practice from the previous day. Their return injected fresh vigor into India’s preparations as they aim to stage a comeback in Birmingham.

Among the batsmen, Sai Sudharsan, who debuted in the Headingley Test, was the first to practice in the nets on Day 2. Notably absent from Saturday’s session were captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, all of whom had engaged in extensive batting practice on Friday, with Gill and Pant spending considerable time in the nets.

While Bumrah's return is encouraging, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled 44 demanding overs in the series opener and is scheduled to participate in only three of the five Tests as part of a workload management strategy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized after the Headingley defeat that the decision regarding Bumrah's participation will be made on a match-by-match basis, irrespective of the series situation.

With bowling now taking center stage in India's practice, the team hopes that their key bowlers will be fully prepared as they seek to level the series at Edgbaston.