Bumrah Returns for Training Ahead of 2nd Test, Final Decision on Inclusion Pending

India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah returned to full-intensity bowling during an optional training session on Saturday ahead of the second Test against England at Birmingham. The 30-year-old pacer bowled for over half an hour in the nets, marking his first bowling session since the opening Test at Leeds.

While Bumrah’s appearance at training sparked optimism, a final decision on his availability for the Birmingham Test is yet to be made. According to latest reports, team management had already outlined that Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests in the series, with no clarity offered yet by skipper Shubman Gill or head coach Gautam Gambhir on which specific matches he will play.

The final call will depend on Bumrah’s assessment of his own fitness in the lead-up to the match. Notably, he did not bowl during Friday’s session but went full throttle in Saturday’s nets, indicating positive signs for his potential inclusion.

Saturday’s session also focused on addressing a key concern from the Leeds Test—India’s fragile lower-order batting. With collapses in both innings, including the loss of the final seven wickets for 41 runs in the first innings and six for 31 in the second, the team management allotted extended batting time to bowlers. Historically, India’s tail has struggled in England, averaging just 19.11 in the last four partnerships during the 2021 tour and 16.35 in 2018.

India’s top-order, including centurions Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, skipped Saturday’s session. The squad will observe a rest day on Sunday before resuming training on Monday. On Tuesday, most likely the pacers selected for the match will be given rest, while batters may opt for light training or throwdowns before the Test begins on Wednesday.

India’s Test squad vs England:

Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.