India's Coach Sticks to Plan for Bumrah's Test Participation Amidst Series Setback
Gautam Gambhir's Strategy for Jasprit Bumrah
Leeds [UK], June 25: Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has reaffirmed that the management will adhere to their strategy of limiting pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah to three Tests, despite a disappointing five-wicket loss in the opening match against England at Headingley.
During the announcement of the squad for the Test series in England, chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that Bumrah has been advised against playing in consecutive Tests as part of a workload management plan. This caution follows a stress reaction in his back sustained during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this year.
Despite the setback, the management opted to utilize Bumrah for the first Test, where the 31-year-old, recognized as one of the best in the world, achieved his 12th five-wicket haul in an away match, equaling the record of the legendary Kapil Dev. He delivered an impressive performance with figures of 5/83 in the first innings.
However, Bumrah struggled in the second innings, failing to take any wickets as India attempted to defend a challenging target of 371 runs, ultimately leading to their defeat.
With India now trailing 0-1 in the series, Gambhir dismissed any notions of allowing Bumrah to play more than three Tests, emphasizing the importance of managing his workload. He stated, “No, we won’t change the plans. Managing his workload is crucial as there’s a lot of cricket ahead, and we understand his value. It was decided before the tour that he would participate in three Tests, but we will assess how his body responds.”
In the first innings, missed catching opportunities severely impacted India’s chances, while the lack of support from other bowlers worsened the situation. In the second innings, as Bumrah struggled, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur stepped up, each taking two wickets, but it was too late to change the outcome.
As India prepares for the next two Tests without Bumrah, Gambhir expressed confidence in the remaining pace bowlers, including Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Krishna, and Akash Deep. He remarked, “We have a strong bowling attack. We believe in them and trust their abilities. Although they may lack experience, they will continue to improve.”
“In this Test match, we were in a position to win for most of the first four days, even on day five. We trust that these players will deliver for us,” he concluded.