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India's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to play three Test in the five-Test series on England soil to manage his workload. With a historic defeat in Headingley, many wondered whether Bumrah will play the next Test or skip it. While captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir did not reveal which Test Bumrah will sit out, Shastri feels it will be the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham as he would not want to miss out bowling at the Lord's. However, Shastri cautioned Team India that it could be 2-0 down by the time India reach Lord's.
“Bumrah said he'll play three Test matches. Now, which of the three he'll play, that's, you know, another question to be asked. I think if he takes a break, it'll be the next one, because he'll definitely want to play at Lord's, right? And there's a break, and then you go into Lord's, then there's a break, and then there's a choice between Manchester and the same. It could be 2-0 down. So that is the problem. I think he has got to play,” Shastri said on Sky Sports Cricket.
Shastri wants a counter punch immediately
Shastri recalled the whitewash at home against New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar series defeat in Australia. He feels that India missed out on the opportunity to capitalise on an experienced England bowling attack. He wants India to win the next one to prevent England from dominating.
“It will be a tough pill to swallow because I was just telling him, back in the commentary box, that we lost 3-0 against New Zealand, lost a series in Australia. Now, this is a tough series. 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. And now it's catch-up time. You're going to go and show some real character. And the knockout punch has to come in the very next Test match. If that doesn't happen, then you're really looking down. So whenever there's a counter punch, you're down. That has to happen quite immediately. So they have to realise that,” he said.
Kuldeep back in?
Shastri's prediction may come true as Edgbaston track has traditionally helped spinners. India may bank on the services of left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav. There could be another change in the bowling lineup as well.
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