The head coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed there are no plans to change the Workload of pacer Jasprit Bumrah across the remainder of India’s tour of England 2025.
It was initially planned that Bumrah would play only three matches in the England series as he had a back issue. However, Gambhir has said that the plans will go according despite India’s five-wicket loss at Leeds.
“I think for us to manage Bumrah’s workload is more important because there’s a lot of cricket going forward and we know that what he brings to the table as well,” Gambhir said.
“So before he came on this tour, it was already decided that he’s going to play three Test matches, but let’s see how his body turns up. But we haven’t decided which two other Test matches he’s going to play.”
With Jasprit Bumrah going wicketless in England’s second innings, the hosts managed to chase the 371 target successfully on the back of a stellar century from opener Ben Duckett.
Seamers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur collected a pair of wickets each in England’s chase with the more experience trio of Siraj, Jadeja and Bumrah struggled to pick wickets.
“This bowling attack has one bowler with five Tests under his belt, one has four, one has played two and one hasn’t yet debuted,” said Gambhir. “We will have to give them time.”
“Earlier, we used to have four fast bowlers in the squad with an experience of more than 40 Tests. It doesn’t make such a big impact in one-day or T20 matches, but when you go to Australia, England or South Africa for Tests, experience matters. These are early days.”
“If we start judging our bowlers after every Test, how will be develop a bowling attack? Outside Bumrah and (Mohammad) Siraj, we don’t have that much experience, but they have quality, which is why they are in this dressing room,” added Gautam Gambhir.
“But we have got to keep backing them because it’s not about one tour. It’s about building a fast-bowler battery that can serve India for long time in Test cricket.”
England captain Ben Stokes was thrilled by his side’s performance during the opening test, with the skipper paying special tribute to Zak Crawley and Duckett for their opening partnership of 188 on the final day that helped setup the win.
The second match of the series will be played between 02 and 06 July on Edgbaston, Birmingham.
