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STUMP VISION JULY 11, 2025 | The Indian Eye 44

India’s Bumrah Dilemma:

Between Rest, Risk, and Results

India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test against England has sparked
debate across the cricketing world — exposing the team’s deepening dilemma of workload

management versus winning momentum

ASIM KHANNA

Birmingham (UK)
hen Shubman Gill strode out for the toss
at Edgbaston and announced that Jasprit
WBumrah would be sitting out, the collec-
tive gasp from Indian fans and cricket pundits was
almost audible. The decision, aimed at “workload
management,” came just days after England chased
down a mammoth 371 in Headingley — India’s
bowlers visibly running out of firepower, even with
Bumrah in the XI. Now, heading into the second
Test of a fiercely contested five-match series with-
out their talisman, the question is simple: Can India
afford to rest their best?
Former coach Ravi Shastri minced no words in
his reaction. “You have the best fast bowler in the
world, and you make him sit out after seven days’
rest? I can’t agree with it,” he told Sky Sports, echo-
ing what many were thinking. Bumrah had dazzled
in the first innings at Headingley with a five-wick-
et haul, only to fade in the second. But even his
“off day” presence demanded respect and altered
opposition strategies — something that cannot be
replicated easily.
With Bumrah out, India have turned to Akash
Deep, a promising but untested name in English Jasprit Bumrah celebrates a wicket during Day 3 of the 1st Test match against England,
conditions. Along with Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds (@BCCI X/ANI Photo)
India are hoping raw pace and freshness will com-
pensate for Bumrah’s absence. It’s a big ask.
Ravichandran Ashwin, never shy of analysis, assumes India can survive Edgbaston without his tactical: how to get 20 wickets with an attack miss-
laid bare England’s likely strategy: “Play Bumrah services. ing its anchor.
carefully and Bazball everyone else.” In his view, Gill also revealed that team selection aimed Underlying the debate is the broader issue of
England’s aggressive brand of Test cricket isn’t reck- to strengthen batting depth after two tail-end col- workload management. Jasprit Bumrah isn’t just
less; it’s selective. They respect Bumrah’s threat lapses in Leeds. Washington Sundar and Nitish any fast bowler — he’s one of the most overworked
and exploit vulnerabilities elsewhere in the attack. Reddy came in to bolster the lower order. But the athletes in world cricket. Years of relentless sched-
This was on display in Leeds, where England’s trade-off? Bowling firepower. And therein lies the ules have already led to back injuries and missed
batters — particularly in the fourth innings — heart of India’s Bumrah dilemma — balancing the seasons. The BCCI and team management, now
treated Bumrah with caution before unleashing a batting and bowling scales when the best bowler is under Gautam Gambhir, are cautious — aiming to
brutal assault on the rest. The result? A historic missing. use him in only three of the five Tests.
chase in just 82 overs, exposing India’s lack of a Former England spinner Monty Panesar hit But that strategy may be too rigid for a fluid,
sustained bowling threat beyond their spearhead. the nail on the head. “India’s biggest shortcoming momentum-driven series. Test cricket doesn’t offer
Ashwin’s remedy? Play “defensive, negative is their inability to take 20 wickets in a Test match,” redo buttons. Losing the first Test and then resting
cricket” from the other end. Bottle the runs, build he said. Without Bumrah, that task becomes sig- your top performer in the second could create a
pressure, and then let the stars strike. Without nificantly harder. psychological deficit hard to recover from — espe-
Bumrah, that entire equation is destabilized. Panesar’s words resonate especially loud when cially against a buoyant England side playing fear-
At the toss, captain Shubman Gill explained placed against India’s historical record — they’ve less, fast-paced cricket.
that Bumrah was rested with an eye on the third never won a Test at Edgbaston. A win here, without Managing Bumrah’s fitness is crucial for the
Test at Lord’s. “We did get a good break, and this their premier fast bowler, would be not just a turn- long haul — but in Test cricket, where the mar-
is an important match. But the third Test being at around, but a monumental statement. gin for error is slim and the stakes are high, so is
Lord’s, we think there’ll be more in that pitch,” he Panesar further suggested that India must be- winning the battle in front of you. India now must
said. It’s a strategic bet — preserve Bumrah now lieve they can win without Bumrah. That’s optimis- prove they can — without their ace. Otherwise, the
to unleash him on a seaming track later. But that tic — but perhaps necessary. The bigger concern is Bumrah dilemma may turn into a full-blown regret.

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