Bumrah Back in the Nets: India Bolsters Bowling Attack Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Bumrah Back in Action as India Fine-Tunes Bowling Attack for Edgbaston Test

Birmingham: Jasprit Bumrah, the star Indian pacer, was back in training on Saturday, shifting the focus of Team India's preparations for the Edgbaston Test firmly onto their bowling attack.

Bumrah's presence at the nets drew significant attention, especially after he skipped Friday's opening session, fueling speculation about his availability for the crucial second Test against England.

After suffering a five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which put them 0-1 down in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, the Indian squad wasted no time in commencing their preparations on Friday. While the entire squad participated in the practice session, both Bumrah and fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna were absent from active drills, raising concerns about their readiness for the Birmingham Test.

Saturday brought positive news for India's pace department as Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj were all seen bowling at the nets. Siraj continued his batting practice from Day 1. Their return injected renewed energy into India’s preparations as the team aims to bounce back strongly in Birmingham.

Among the batsmen, Sai Sudharsan, who debuted in the Headingley Test, was the first to practice in the nets on Day 2. Notably absent from Saturday’s training were captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. These four batsmen had engaged in extensive batting practice on Friday, with Gill and Pant spending considerable time in the nets.

While Bumrah’s return is encouraging, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled a demanding 44 overs in the series opener and is scheduled to play in only three of the five Tests as part of a workload management strategy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized after the Headingley defeat that the decision regarding Bumrah’s participation will be made on a match-to-match basis, irrespective of the series scoreline.

With bowling now taking center stage in India's practice sessions, the team is hoping that their key bowlers will be fully prepared as they seek a series-equalizing victory at Edgbaston.