Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that there are no intentions to change Jasprit Bumrah’s workload during the current Test series against England. This decision comes despite India’s five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds.
Given his back difficulties, the right-arm bowler was projected to play only three of the five ICC World Test Championship (WTC) matches. However, Gambhir added that Bumrah will remain eligible for selection throughout the series should circumstances dictate otherwise.
“I think for us to manage Bumrah’s workload is more important because there’s a lot of cricket going forward and we know what he brings to the table as well,” Gambhir reported.
“So, when he arrived on this trip, it was already established that he would play three Test matches, but we’ll see how his body responds. But we haven’t determined which two further Tests he’ll play,” he explained.
Bumrah impressed in the first innings, taking five wickets, but went wicketless in the second. Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna both took two wickets during England’s successful chase, while the rest of the bowling attack struggled to make an impression.
“This bowling assault has one bowler with five Test appearances, one with four, one with two, and one who has yet to make his debut. We will need to give them time. We used to have four fast bowlers in the squad who had played over 40 Tests. Experience doesn’t mean as much in one-day or T20 matches, but when it comes to Tests in Australia, England, or South Africa, it does.
“These are early days,” Gautam Gambhir explained.
Gambhir stressed that assessing bowlers after each Test match will not assist to establish a good bowling unit. He admitted that, while the current group of bowlers lacked experience, they possess the required qualities. He stated that with regular support, these bowlers may develop and serve Indian cricket in the red ball format for a long time.
“If we begin rating our bowlers after each Test, how will we create a bowling attack? Outside of Bumrah and (Mohammad) Siraj, we don’t have much experience, but they have talent, which is why they’re in this dressing room. But we have to keep supporting them because it is more than just one tour. It is about developing a fast-bowler battery that can serve India for a long time in Test cricket,” Gambhir said.
![[WATCH] Virat Kohli’s India return fuels buzz around possible Lionel Messi meet](https://cricketmood.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1765633245912_Kohli-x-Messi-1.webp "[WATCH] Virat Kohli’s India return fuels buzz around possible Lionel Messi meet 2")
India
