India vs. England: Team Preps for Second Test as Bumrah's Absence Raises Workload Management Questions

Team India's net session in Birmingham. (Pic credit: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com)

Birmingham: The Indian cricket team has commenced its preparations for the crucial second Test against England with a rigorous net session held at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Friday. This marks the team's first practice since their five-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Headingley, where England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

The entire squad was present at the ground; however, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah notably did not participate in any on-field activity. Prasidh Krishna was also absent from bowling or drills, while the remaining team members engaged in a full training session. Mohammed Siraj dedicated a significant amount of time to honing his batting skills, and head coach Gautam Gambhir was observed in lengthy discussions with pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were seen batting in the nets, while most of the bowlers, with the exception of Bumrah and Prasidh, went through their bowling routines. Despite the scrutiny following the loss in Leeds, the mood within the camp appeared relaxed. The team leadership continues to support the squad, which is currently undergoing a transition phase, with senior players backing the younger members.

On Thursday, the players engaged in a team bonding activity at an adventure park in Birmingham, providing a refreshing break before resuming the intense schedule of the Test series.

All eyes are now focused on the Bumrah situation. Having bowled 44 overs in the first Test, the ace fast bowler is expected to participate in only three matches during this series to effectively manage his workload. This approach was reinforced by Head Coach Gambhir during the post-match press conference, where he emphasized that the match score would not influence Bumrah’s appearances and that decisions would be made on a game-by-game basis.

Given the short turnaround between the second Test at Edgbaston (July 2–6) and the third at Lord’s (July 10–14), it is suggested that Birmingham could be the designated rest match for Bumrah. Gambhir, along with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, has consistently stressed the importance of workload management, indicating that Bumrah’s availability will be determined with a long-term perspective, irrespective of the series' current state.