In a big setback for Team India, their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is reportedly set to miss the second Test against England which is scheduled to get underway from July 2 at Edgbaston. According to a report from the Indian Express, Bumrah, Bumrah, who is arguably India's most valuable player in the series, is being rested due to workload management and is expected to return for the third Test at Lord's, which begins on July 10. Bumrah's absence will be a major challenge for the Indian team management to deal with, who now face the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement for their talismanic bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah might miss 2nd Test against England
The concern surrounding Bumrah's absence is amplified by the team's performance in the first Test at Headingley. Despite Bumrah shouldering a heavy workload of 44 overs, the Indian bowling unit collectively struggled with their line and length. This led to their failure to defend a substantial target of 371 on the final day, resulting in a loss.
This raises a critical question for the Indian think tank: if the team was unable to secure all ten wickets with their premier bowler in the lineup, how will they manage to do so without him. The selectors are now left to ponder not only who can replace Bumrah but also how the entire bowling attack can regroup and prove effective in his absence.
Either Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep might be seen walking into India's playing XI, joining the pace force with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur for the second Test.
Bumrah's bowling performance stood out significantly in the second Test, as evidenced by his figures of 5/140 runs across 43.4 overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 3.20. In stark contrast, the combined efforts of Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna yielded 9 wickets for a substantial 482 runs in 92 overs, highlighting the considerable difference in impact.
Arshdeep Singh emerges as a promising candidate. While his red-ball cricket experience at the international level is still developing, his left-arm angle coupled with his ability to swing the ball both ways presents a valuable variation to the bowling attack. Given the potentially swing-friendly conditions often found in England, Arshdeep's bowling style could pose a challenge to England's aggressive opening batsmen, particularly in the initial stages of an innings.
Talking about Akash Deep, he has demonstrated his strengths through consistent probing lines and the ability to extract movement off the seam. Although he might not possess the raw pace of Bumrah, Akash Deep offers discipline, a quality that India notably lacked in the final innings at Headingley. With the conditions at Edgbaston potentially favoring bowlers who maintain a fuller length and target the stumps, Akash Deep's methodical approach could prove to be an effective asset.