Jasprit Bumrah: The Key Player for India in Upcoming Test Against England
India's Anticipation for the First Test
As India gears up to face England in the opening Test at Leeds, all eyes are on pace leader Jasprit Bumrah. The 31-year-old is set to return to international cricket after a remarkable IPL season with the Mumbai Indians, following a period of injury recovery. He not only brings his exceptional skills but also the hopes of a transitioning Indian cricket team missing three key players.
Test Match Details
The first Test is scheduled to commence on June 20. It will be a bittersweet moment for fans to see Team India compete without stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, despite the promising talent in the new squad.
Bumrah's Role in the Young Pace Attack
Unlike his IPL experience, Bumrah will not have seasoned bowlers like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar alongside him. Instead, he will lead a youthful pace attack that includes Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep, who collectively have only 46 Test appearances, just one more than Bumrah's individual tally. All-rounders Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy may provide some relief to the primary bowlers.
Bumrah's Impressive Record Against England
Bumrah boasts an impressive record against England, having taken 37 wickets in just nine matches at an average of 23.78 and a strike rate of 51.9, making him one of the top Indian bowlers in England. His best bowling figures stand at 5/64, and he has only gone wicketless once in 15 innings against them on their home turf.
Performance Overview from Previous Tours
During his inaugural tour to England in 2018, Bumrah claimed 14 wickets in three matches at an average of 25.92, with his best figures being 5/85, contributing to a 203-run victory for India at Nottingham. His subsequent tour in 2021-22 was remarkable, where he led the bowling charts with 23 wickets in five matches at an average of 22.47, including a standout performance of 5/64.
Expectations for Bumrah's Upcoming Performance
Overall, Bumrah has taken 60 wickets in 14 matches against England, averaging 22.16, with his best figures being 6/45. He arrives in England with immense confidence, having had a stellar series in Australia where he took 32 wickets at an average of 13.06. His exceptional performance in Australia has solidified his status, and another outstanding series in England could elevate his legacy as a fast bowler.
Bumrah's skill set extends beyond statistics; his ability to deliver precise yorkers, create pressure, and maintain composure under pressure makes him an invaluable asset to the Indian team. Achieving another five-wicket haul would mark his tenth in SENA countries, a first for any Indian bowler, and five more wickets would bring him to 150 in SENA, another unprecedented milestone.