India is in England, and the second Test has already begun. The primary member in India’s pace-bowling outfit, Jasprit Bumrah, has been rested for the current game, which is pretty unusual. The management claimed workload management as the reason for Bumrah’s absence from the match at Edgbaston in Birmingham, although with a week between the first and second Tests, many were surprised by the decision.
Legendary pacer Stuart Broad was surprised by his absence for the game, stating that it is a bit startling to see the best pacer in the team out after allowing him enough of break between the games in Headingley and Birmingham.
“A week is an excellent time off for a fast bowler. (Bumrah’s omission) startled me, as did his statement prior to the series that he would only play three of the five Tests. You keep those cards close to your chest, playing each week as it comes. They will undoubtedly want Bumrah at Lord’s because of the movement he can achieve through the air, but can they risk him here? Broad told Sky Sports.
Akash Deep comes in for Jasprit Bumrah
In the first innings of the series opener, Bumrah took a brilliant five-wicket haul, running through the English batting line-up, which helped India gain a narrow yet a crucial lead after posting 471 batting first. The Shubman Gill-led side failed to maximize the benefit in the second innings, as the target for the Ben Stokes-led side was a little short.
While the visitors tried to defend the target, Bumrah bowled exceptionally but failed to pick wickets. Lack of solid support from the other end with the ball meant that England chased down the target easily, where Ben Duckett’s 149 was the highlight from the fifth day of the game. With Bumrah’s unavailability, India brought in the likes of Akash Deep into the mix with Mohammed Siraj leading the pace battery as the most experienced seamer.
India are batting first in the game, and skipper Shubman Gill has been striking the ball really well. At Stumps on Day 1, India have already posted 310 runs for the loss of five wickets, with Gill (114*) and Ravindra Jadeja (41*) still at the crease.
India
