Jasprit Bumrah has been medically advised to manage his workload carefully.
Although India have not yet determined which test matches Jasprit Bumrah will play in the forthcoming five-match series in England, coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill were certain that their pace attack’s depth will compensate for his probable absence.
As part of his workload management, medical staff had recommended Bumrah not to risk playing many straight test matches, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said when he announced India’s test squad last month.
The precaution was taken when Bumrah only made a comeback during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after missing Mumbai Indians’ (MI) first four games after suffering a stress reaction in his back during the fifth test match against Australia in Sydney in January.
Jasprit Bumrah, who made his India test debut in 2018, has so far played 45 tests and picked 205 wickets at an average of 19.40, with best bowling figures of 6/27 in an innings and 9/86 in a match. He has 13 fifers to his name in tests.
“Difficult to replace someone like Jasprit Bumrah.” – Gautam Gambhir
India head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke to reporters and revealed that the team management has not decided which three tests Bumrah will play. He also stated that while it is difficult to replace someone like Jasprit Bumrah, they have enough firepower in the India squad.
“We haven’t taken that call. Which three games is he going to play?” We are going to have a discussion with him and, depending on the series, as well. A lot will depend on the results of the series and where the series is heading. That is something that I am sure he is very well aware of as well, and that is important,” Gambhir said in the press conference in Mumbai.
Gambhir also stated that Bumrah’s absence is an opportunity for someone else to step up and gave India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win as an example, which India won without the Gujarat pacer.
“It’s always difficult to replace someone like Jasprit Bumrah. But we have enough quality. I have said this before, including during the Champions Trophy, that when he is not there, it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up,” Gambhir added.
The five tests against England will be India’s first in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. They play the first test at Headingley from June 20, the second at Edgbaston from July 2, the third at the Lord’s from July 10, the fourth at Old Trafford from July 23, and the final at the Oval from July 31.
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