Mumbai– India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be rested for the second Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England, scheduled to begin July 2 at Edgbaston in Birmingham, according to a report published Thursday by The Indian Express.
The move is reportedly aimed at managing Bumrah’s workload. He is likely to return for the third Test of the series. It was previously indicated during team selection that Bumrah would feature in only four of the five Tests, with Indian skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir stating that a final decision on which matches he would play would be made during the course of the series.
Bumrah played a key role in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, where he took a five-wicket haul in the first innings to help India secure a narrow six-run lead. However, he went wicketless in the second innings, as England chased down a stiff target of 371 to win the match by five wickets.
Bumrah, currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, has been India’s most reliable pace option. His potential absence could leave the bowling attack vulnerable, especially with Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Siraj having struggled with consistency and control during the first Test.
Meanwhile, England will receive a major boost with the inclusion of Jofra Archer in the squad for the second Test. Archer, who has been sidelined from red-ball cricket since February 2021 due to recurring elbow issues and a stress fracture in his back, recently made his return playing for Sussex against Durham in a County Championship fixture, where he claimed 1 for 32 in 18 overs.
It remains uncertain which England pacer will make way for Archer in the playing XI, with Josh Tongue—who claimed seven wickets in the first Test—and Brydon Carse—who picked up four—both putting in strong performances. Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, and Jacob Bethell have also been retained in the squad.
The second Test is shaping up to be pivotal in the series, with both teams looking to assert momentum and manage key players’ fitness as the tightly packed schedule unfolds. (Source: IANS)
