“Rest Bumrah at Your Own Risk – 2-0 Could Be An Uphill Task”: Shastri Warns India Ahead of Second Test vs England

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has advised the team management to reconsider its decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England, following India’s five-wicket defeat in the series opener at Headingley. With England having pulled off their second-highest successful run chase in Test history by chasing down 371 runs, questions have surfaced over India’s bowling depth and the implications of sidelining their premier pacer.

Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer for India in the first innings, delivering a fiery spell that yielded figures of 5 for 83 and briefly put India in control. However, his impact faded in the second innings, where he went wicketless in India’s failed attempt to defend a sizable target. Despite that, Shastri underscored the importance of retaining Bumrah in the lineup for the next clash in Birmingham, set to begin on July 2.

“If he (Bumrah) was looking at a rest, you may have to think twice. If you don’t have him and then go 2-0 down, it could be an uphill task,” Shastri told Sky Sports, highlighting the risk of falling further behind in the five-match series.

Bumrah’s bowling performance stood in stark contrast to the rest of India’s pace unit. While he returned combined match figures of 5 for 140 at an economy rate of 3.20 across 43.4 overs, his fellow seamers—Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—struggled to make an impact. Together, the trio managed just 9 wickets for 482 runs in 92 overs.

India’s management had earlier committed to using Bumrah in only three of the five Tests to manage his workload. This plan was announced by chief selector Ajit Agarkar before the tour began, citing the pacer’s history of back injuries, particularly the stress reaction that kept him out following the Sydney Test against Australia in January.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir reaffirmed this approach in the post-match press conference, noting that workload management remains a top priority. “For us, managing his workload is more important because there’s a lot of cricket going forward, and we know what he brings to the table,” Gambhir said. He added that while the decision to limit Bumrah’s appearances was made before the series, the final call on which matches he plays will still depend on his physical condition.

Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar had also weighed in earlier, advocating for Bumrah’s inclusion in all five matches. However, Gambhir dismissed the idea, emphasizing long-term fitness over immediate gains.

India now face a critical decision: stick to the pre-planned rotation or adapt based on current form and series pressure. With the series tilted 1-0 in England’s favor, the second Test in Birmingham may prove pivotal not just for India’s comeback hopes—but also for how they manage their key players in high-stakes conditions.