Bumrah’s Availability for Second Test Remains Uncertain

BIRMINGHAM, England – India’s decision on Jasprit Bumrah‘s participation in Wednesday’s second Test against England is still up in the air as team management aims to manage his workload. The squad will reveal if Bumrah plays just hours before the match starts, with India captain Shubman Gill stating the bowler is ‘definitely available’ while emphasizing a final evaluation of the pitch will dictate the lineup.

The conditions at Edgbaston are becoming a worry for the Indian side, as they face a high possibility of rain this weekend. If the pitch favors batting, a draw may become a likely outcome. India’s team management is cautious that playing Bumrah in such conditions could lead to unnecessary fatigue ahead of the third Test at Lord’s next week.

Gill addressed the media after a training session on Tuesday, mentioning the hover cover obstructed their final pitch assessment. ‘We just thought we’re going to have one final look today and see what kind of combination we want to go with,’ he said. ‘I want to see the wicket one last time before we decide.’

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, weighed in with praise for the wicket, affirming, ‘It looks a really, really good wicket. They’ve tried to produce something we were after.’

Meanwhile, Bumrah has engaged in light training since the first Test, refraining from attending practice at Edgbaston. There is speculation that if he is rested, Akash Deep could take his place in the lineup. India’s previous match exposed their shortcomings, especially at the lower-order batting, where their final six batters only managed 65 runs across both innings.

Although four of India’s top five scorers had centuries in the first Test, Gill noted that more responsibility is needed from the top order. ‘Once you are set… maybe the top order could take a little bit more responsibility and bat them completely out of the game,’ he stated.

As the team prepares for the match, bowling coach and players engage in rigorous training, including Kuldeep Yadav, who is keen to improve his contributions with both bat and ball. ‘The dry weather in Birmingham could force the Indian management to look his way for the second Test next week,’ a team source suggested.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Bumrah’s availability, Gill remains optimistic about the team’s strategy moving forward. ‘Whatever team we put out there, we can compete in this Test match,’ he confirmed.

As the countdown to the toss begins, Bumrah’s status continues to be a critical talking point for the squad and supporters alike.