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Bumrah, who is leading India’s bowling attack in the ongoing first Test against England at Headingley, is expected to play only three Tests as part of workload management.
Bumrah is expected to play only three Tests against England in the ongoing series. (Picture Credit: AP)
World No. 1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah is leading India’s bowling attack in the ongoing first Test against England. He picked up five wickets for 83 runs in the first innings. Bumrah’s super show with the ball on Saturday and Sunday earned him big praise from the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Cheteshwar Pujara, and the duo even asked his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, on Sunday to convince Bumrah to play all five Tests against the Poms.
“I have a request for you. You will have to convince Jasprit to play a few more games. Just try. You are the one who can convince; we leave it to you,” Pujara said on Sony Sports Network. “Jasprit, we need you. Please play all five Tests,” Gavaskar made a passionate plea as well.
Sanjana, who is working with Sony Sports as a presenter, interviewed Bumrah before the start of the fourth day’s play in Leeds and informed him about Pujara and Gavaskar’s request to play all five Tests, and in reply, Bumrah said, “That is a conversation that we’ll have on another day. Thank you.”
Here’s a look:
Bumrah, who became the first Asian bowler to take 150 Test wickets in SENA countries on Sunday (June 22), is expected to play only three Tests for India in the ongoing series. The news was first confirmed by India’s chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, during India’s squad announcement on May 24, and later during the pre-departure press conference, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill also confirmed the development but refused to confirm which two Tests Bumrah will skip.
The decision to play Bumrah in only three Test matches is taken keeping in mind his workload. Bumrah played all five Tests for India in Australia during the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but suffered a back injury during the fifth Test which then kept him out of action for more than three months.
After the series opener in Leeds, India will face England in the second Test at Edgbaston from July 2 to 6, and the next three Tests are scheduled to take place at Lord’s (July 10-14), Manchester (July 23-27), and The Oval (July 31-August 4).
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