India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has reiterated that Jasprit Bumrah will only play in three of the five Tests in the ongoing series against England. Following India’s defeat in the first Test at Headingley, Gambhir said the decision was made before the tour began, with Bumrah’s workload management being a top priority.
Bumrah was India’s standout bowler in the Headingley Test, claiming 5 for 83 in the first innings, once again proving why he is so vital to India’s red-ball setup. However, he went wicketless in the second innings, as England successfully chased down 371 runs on the fifth day to take a 1-0 lead in the series. It was England’s second-highest successful run-chase in Test cricket.
Given Jasprit Bumrah's fitness concerns, the fast-bowler is being carefully managed to avoid any chances of injury. India know how important Bumrah is and team management has made it clear they won’t overuse him, choosing to space out his appearances across the tour.
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Gautam Gambhir Confirms Jasprit Bumrah Will Play Only Three Tests in England Series
Gambhir, addressing the media after the Headingley Test, clarified that while Bumrah is expected to play in three matches, the team is still deciding which games those will be. He also expressed his confidence in the rest of the bowling unit, which looked toothless in Leeds.
"No, our plans remain the same. Managing Bumrah’s workload is crucial because we have a lot of cricket coming up. Before this tour began, it was decided that he would play three Tests, but we haven’t yet decided which three. We’ll see how his body holds up. But yes, we absolutely believe in the bowling group. We picked them on trust, not hope. They’ll keep getting better with time," Gambhir said as quoted to reporters after India’s loss at Headingley.
India captain Shubman Gill also weighed in, noting that Bumrah's participation will be evaluated ahead of each match.
"It’s definitely a match-by-match decision. There’s a good break before the next Test, so we’ll assess things closer to that game and then decide," Gill added.
With four Tests still to play, and Bumrah already having played one, India will need to decide whether to deploy him in the second Test or hold him back for the latter stages of the series.
The next match is scheduled to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston. There is enough gap for him to rest up and since India is now trailing, Bumrah will most likely feature in the Edgbaston clash.
"That’s a Conversation for Another Day" - Jasprit Bumrah on Playing All Five Tests
Interestingly, there has already been some friendly lobbying to get Bumrah to reconsider the plan and play all five Tests. Senior figures like Sunil Gavaskar and Cheteshwar Pujara reportedly urged Sanjana Ganesan, Bumrah’s wife and a sports presenter, to try and persuade him.
When Sanjana brought up the suggestion, Bumrah smiled and left the door slightly without making any promises.
"That is a conversation we will have on another day," Bumrah replied.
Also read: England Go Top of the WTC 2025-27 Standings with Victory Over India at Headingley
