Cricketer Aakash Chopra suggests strategic deployment of Bumrah for India during their tour in England.
England, here we come! Former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra is eager to see how India's cricket team, especially the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, will perform in the much-anticipated Test series starting June 20 at Headingley.
Despite Bumrah's crucial role for the team, concerns surrounding his workload management have arisen due to a stress reaction in his back during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this year. This precaution to limit Bumrah's appearances in consecutive Tests is crucial to ensure his availability and effectiveness throughout the series.
According to coach Gautam Gambhir, the team hasn't yet decided on which Tests Bumrah will take the field. For Aakash, it's only natural to consider playing Bumrah in tougher conditions, such as at Birmingham and The Oval (second and fifth Tests), where experienced bowlers are needed to deliver under tricky pitch conditions.
Aakash remarked, "With tough situations, you want your best players. I'd want Kohli in a crunch chase – similarly, I'd want Bumrah in bowler-friendly conditions. The Oval and Birmingham will challenge the bowlers more. The pitches may be flatter, and you'll need very experienced bowlers. The call will come down to how Bumrah's body is responding. But if it were up to me, I'd play him where the conditions are toughest – because that's where he gives you the biggest edge."
This upcoming Test series presents several challenges for the young Indian team, as batting bigwigs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have stepped down from Test cricket. This development could place additional pressure on the youthful roster and Shubman Gill, who'll be captaining the team.
According to Aakash, the expectations placed upon this inexperienced team make the challenge in England even tougher. However, he also notes that the team comes with a built-in advantage – people view it as a rookie squad, providing some room for error and patience as they adapt to international competition.
In the instrumented five-match Test series against England, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, India has shown off its skill and determination on the cricket field. Bumrah, an instrumental and talented player, will play a crucial role in helping India maintain its winning streak. Keep a close eye on this exciting encounter, as we eagerly await Bumrah's impact on the Test series against England!
India squad for five Tests in England: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav. (ANI)
The upcoming Test series against England presents a significant challenge for India, particularly with the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. This could put additional pressure on the young team and Shubman Gill, who will be captaining the side. (ANI)
Aakash Chopra believes that Jasprit Bumrah's opinion will be crucial in tougher conditions, such as at Birmingham and The Oval. He notes that these pitches may be flatter, requiring highly experienced bowlers like Bumrah to deliver under challenging pitch conditions. (ANI)
