The Indian team found themselves on the losing side in the first match of the ENG vs IND Test series at Headingley despite scoring 5 amazing hundreds. Even with a commanding position and posting a challenging 371 run target for the opposition, the team captained by Shubman Gill failed to dismiss England as they ran away with the target.
Heading into the upcoming match, a major question lingers regarding the availability of star Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Before arriving in the UK, India’s coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Bumrah would play in only three of the five matches to help manage his workload.
Captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir did not disclose which Test Bumrah will miss, but former coach Ravi Shastri believes it will be the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, since he wouldn’t want to forgo bowling at Lord’s.
What Ravi Shastri exactly said?
Shastri warned Team India that they might find themselves 2-0 down by the time they arrive at Lord’s.
“Bumrah mentioned he will participate in only three Test matches. Now, which of the three he will play is, you know, another question to consider. I believe if he rests, the following one will be it, since he’ll surely want to play at Lord’s, correct? It could be 2-0 down,” Shastri said.
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Shastri recalled the home defeat against New Zealand and the loss in the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. He believes that India failed to take advantage of a seasoned England bowling lineup. He wants India to triumph in the upcoming match to stop England from taking control.
“You had your opportunity to go one up here, you know, with England having problems with their bowling attack, the injuries that they have. And you’ve blown it,” Shastri added.
Bumrah- The Lone Warrior
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah once again proved to be the lone warrior in the bowling set-up as he didn’t receive any support from the other end.
Bumrah concluded the match with figures of 5-140 from 43.4 overs in the Headingley Test, claiming all his wickets during the first innings where he secured a five-wicket haul. He bowled 19 overs in the second innings but was unable to take any wickets.
Gill did not utilize him in the game’s final stages, sparking injury rumors; however, he was later spotted fielding, indicating that the India captain’s decision was a strategic choice.
