Team India’s tour of England is all set to begin on 20 June 2025, as both teams gear up for a five-match Test series. Under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, a new era will begin for India in the longest format of the game. However, considering the bowling options available in the squad, fans are aware that it will be an overall inexperienced unit.
Jasprit Bumrah will be part of the squad, but the big question is whether he will be available for all five matches, especially given concerns over his fitness. During the team announcement, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said: “We’ve had a chat with him and he’s okay with it. He knows where his body’s at and he’d rather look after himself and be bowling fit. It was more his workload management and having him fit as a bowler, more than anything else.”
During a media interaction, head coach Gautam Gambhir also addressed the issue, stating that they are yet to decide which three matches Bumrah will play, and that decision will depend on how the series unfolds.
On the topic of Bumrah’s workload management, RevSportz Editor-in-Chief Boria Majumdar had an exclusive chat with former Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun, who was part of the 2021 touring team to England. When asked about managing Bumrah’s workload, Bharat said: “See, it is such that too much bowling and too little bowling, both cause injuries. They are a perfect recipe for some bowler to get injured. So, obviously, we cannot control the number of overs that Jasprit Bumrah bowls in a match.”
“Handling him will be very crucial.” – Bharat Arun on Jasprit Bumrah
He further explained: “But according to the number of overs he bowls in the match, the practice sessions can be toned down for him where he needs to be working on his recovery. It can be a strength training session in the gym or some recovery work with the physios. So, handling him will be very crucial. And as you rightly mentioned, Bumrah’s presence in the team adds a huge value. Not only he does well, he rallies the other bowlers.”
Bharat added: “The confidence which they ride in with Jasprit Bumrah being in the side would definitely add a lot of value to this team. So, ideally, I would expect him to play all the Test matches. If there is very good support from the other bowlers, Bumrah can be preserved and play in all the five Test matches.”
He concluded by saying: “If he is going to be bowling, taking a lot of the workload, then I am afraid he will not be ready for all the five Tests. So, how the other bowlers support him becomes very vital. So, we’ve got to take it as you go, rather than saying he is good for first three Test matches, then you need to give him a break. The other bowlers can help Bumrah play in all the Test matches if they are bowling really well.”
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