Bumrah's Return to Nets Boosts India's Hopes for Edgbaston Test Comeback: Bowling Focus Intensifies

Bumrah Back in Action as India Fine-Tunes Bowling Attack for Edgbaston Test

Jasprit Bumrah made a return to training on Saturday, shifting the focus of Team India's preparations for the Edgbaston Test to bowling. After sitting out Friday's opening session, Bumrah's presence in the nets sparked considerable interest, especially given the lingering doubts surrounding his availability for the crucial second Test against England.

Following a five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which left them trailing 0-1 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India commenced their preparations on Friday. While the entire squad participated in practice, the absence of Bumrah and fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna from active drills raised questions about their readiness for the Birmingham Test.

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

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

While Bumrah's return is a positive development, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled 44 demanding overs in the series opener and is scheduled to play 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, regardless of the series situation.

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