Bumrah’s Limited Test Appearances During India-England Series

Veteran Test batsman Ajinkya Rahane recently lauded Jasprit Bumrah for his exceptional candor regarding his workload management prior to the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England.

In a YouTube podcast appearance, Rahane emphasized that Bumrah’s open communication is infrequent in Indian cricket, where athletes often risk being sidelined for selectively choosing matches.

During the podcast interview, Rahane praised Bumrah’s transparent dialogue with the team leadership.

Rahane’s Statement

“What impressed me about Bumrah was his clarity; he had a defined plan before the series,” he stated. “He intended to participate in the first Test, skip the second, and then play the third. Such clarity benefits a captain immensely. It demonstrates his willingness to openly communicate with the captain and management.”

Bumrah, who holds the top spot in Test bowlers globally, had informed the BCCI, captain Shubman Gill, and head coach Gautam Gambhir about his decision to participate in only three of the five Tests against England.

Bumrah played in the first, third, and fourth Tests, achieving two remarkable five-wicket hauls, one at Headingley and another at Lord’s, concluding the series with 14 wickets.

Notably, India secured a six-run victory against England in a gripping contest at The Oval during the fifth and final Test, thereby leveling the five-match series 2-2 the previous week.

On the match’s fifth day, England resumed their second innings at 339/6, pursuing a target of 374, with Jamie Smith at two not out and Jamie Overton yet to score. They required 35 runs on the final day to win.

However, upon the resumption of play, Indian bowlers showcased their dominance, making the remaining 35 runs seem insurmountable for England.

The pivotal partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook proved futile as the English team was dismissed for 367.

Brook delivered a brilliant performance, scoring 111 runs from 98 deliveries, including two sixes and 14 boundaries, while Root contributed 105 from 152 balls with 12 boundaries.

Opening batsman Ben Duckett also added 54, but aside from these innings, England’s batting order struggled, with five players failing to reach double digits.

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were instrumental with the ball for India, each securing five wickets in the second innings.