Bumrah Boosts India's Hopes: Star Pacer Returns to Nets Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Bumrah Back in Action: India Intensifies Bowling Drills Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Birmingham: Jasprit Bumrah made a return to training on Saturday, shifting the focus to bowling as Team India continued its preparations for the Edgbaston Test.

After missing Friday's opening session, Bumrah's presence at the nets sparked considerable interest, especially given the existing doubts regarding his availability for the crucial second Test against England.

Following a five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which put them 0-1 down in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the Indian squad wasted no time in commencing practice on Friday. While the entire squad was present, the absence of Bumrah and fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna from active drills led to speculation about their readiness for the Birmingham Test.

Team India’s Intense Nets at Edgbaston| Prep for 2nd Test vs England

However, Saturday brought a welcome boost to India's pace attack. Bumrah, Prasidh, and Mohammed Siraj all bowled at the nets, with Siraj building on his batting practice from Day 1. Their return injected renewed intensity into India’s preparations as the team aims to rebound strongly in Birmingham.

Sai Sudharsan, who debuted in the Headingley Test, was the first batter to practice in the nets on Day 2. Notably absent from Saturday’s training were captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, all of whom had engaged in extensive batting practice on Friday, with Gill and Pant spending considerable time in the nets.

While Bumrah's return is encouraging, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled a demanding 44 overs in the series opener and is scheduled to participate in only three of the five Tests as part of a workload management strategy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized after the Headingley loss that the decision regarding Bumrah’s participation will be made on a match-by-match basis, irrespective of the series scoreline.

With bowling now taking center stage in India's practice sessions, the team hopes its key bowlers will be fully prepared as they seek a series-leveling victory at Edgbaston.