Aakash Chopra Discusses Jasprit Bumrah's Role in Upcoming England Test Series
Bumrah's Limited Participation in England Tests
New Delhi [India] - Former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has shared his thoughts on the limited use of pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah during India's upcoming five-match Test series in England, which kicks off on June 20 at Headingley.
During the announcement of the squad for the England tour, chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that Bumrah has been advised against playing in consecutive Tests as part of a strategy to manage his workload. This caution arises from a stress reaction in his back that he sustained during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney back in January.
Bumrah missed India's successful Champions Trophy campaign but made his return with the Mumbai Indians in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). On Wednesday, head coach Gautam Gambhir indicated that a decision regarding Bumrah's participation in the playing XI for the Tests is still pending.
Aakash Chopra believes it would be 'tempting' to include Bumrah in challenging conditions, particularly at Birmingham and The Oval, where India will need their seasoned bowlers to perform. He stated, 'In tough situations, you want your best players. Just as you would want Kohli in a critical chase, Bumrah is essential in bowler-friendly conditions. The Oval and Birmingham will present tricky pitches, and experienced bowlers will be crucial. The final decision will depend on how Bumrah's body responds, but I would opt to play him in the toughest conditions for the greatest advantage.'
India will be without key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who recently announced their retirement from Test cricket. With a relatively inexperienced squad led by young captain Shubman Gill, Aakash feels the expectations surrounding the team will add to the difficulty of the upcoming series in England. He remarked, 'Expectations will heighten the challenge. However, with a new team, there is some leeway. People recognize this is a youthful squad, which allows for a longer adjustment period. While the pressure remains, it differs from that faced by an experienced team, where the sole expectation is to win.'
The Indian squad for the five Tests in England includes: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.