India’s sensational fast bowling star, Jasprit Bumrah, can play all five test matches against England without succumbing to injuries, only if other bowlers provide the required support to relieve the burden on him.
Six months back, the 31-year-old played all five matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and concluded as the leading wicket-taker. But too much workload on him turned out to be of no use.
In other words, too much dependence on Bumrah caused him to suffer from a severe back injury. As a consequence, he was forced to be ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 as well as miss the first four matches for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Bumrah, being the pillar of the Indian bowling attack for the past two to three years since 2023, boasts a remarkable average of 19.4 and a strike rate of 42.1 in test cricket.
What if India’s talented speedster is unable to play all five tests? First, let’s have a look at the schedule of the five-match series that helps to find out the possible scenarios for Bumrah to fit best into India’s plans.
India Tour of England 2025 Fixtures: 5-Match Test Series Dates
- 1st Test: June 20 (Friday) to June 24 (Tuesday), at Headingley, Leeds.
- 2nd Test: July 02 (Wednesday) to July 06 (Sunday) at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
- 3rd Test: July 10 (Thursday) to July 14 (Monday) at Lord’s, London.
- 4th Test: July 23 (Wednesday) to July 27 (Sunday) at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.
- 5th Test: July 31 (Thursday) to August 04 (Monday) at Kennington Oval, London.
Allow Bumrah to Play 4 out of 5 Tests against England
After scrutinizing the 5-match test series schedule, it is understood that there is just three days of gap left between the second and third test, as well as between the fourth and fifth test. In other words, it would be advisable for Jasprit Bumrah to skip any one of the five matches to preserve his form in the upcoming matches.
So here are the two possible cases that could help the multi-format bowler resist getting stressed due to a heavy workload:
1. A Rest for Bumrah in the Third Test at the Lord’s:
The best option the Indian team management should consider is to allow Bumrah to play the first two tests at Headingley and Edgbaston and then rest him for the third test at Lord’s. This helps the world’s best all-format bowler get a 15-day break to regain his fitness and return for the 4th test at Old Trafford.
Also, by providing a much-needed rest for Bumrah, India can give a chance to the benched players and find the best match winners.
2. A Required Break for Bumrah in the Manchester Test:
The Manchester pitches are known for their spin-friendly surfaces, and this could be the best chance to provide the required rest for Jasprit Bumrah.
Compared to other venues in England, Manchester have been the favourite for the spinners, having bagged 73 wickets at an average of 23.8 in 2024.
Possibly, India might proceed with a spin-heavy line-up, considering the stats in the past two years, where spinners have played a crucial role at this venue.
Apart from Ravindra Jadeja, India can prefer other options like Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav.
In this scenario, Bumrah needs to play the first three tests and take a break at Old Trafford. This way, he could get two weeks of rest, which is a boon for Team India’s bowling unit.
How can Other Bowlers’ Contributions help Bumrah Play All Five Tests vs England?
Jasprit Bumrah’s teammates need to take up more than half of his workload, which would easily allow him to play all five tests, which is highly unlikely. This is because the other fast bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana played less than 10 matches in their test career, while Arshdeep Singh is yet to play his maiden test match.
However, Mohammed Siraj (100 wickets) is the only pacer after Bumrah (205 wickets) who has played 30+ tests and has a difference of 105 wickets between them.
Following an average performance in Australia, Siraj gets a second chance as he holds some memorable performances in England that could help lead the inexperienced pace bowling attack. Still, Bumrah’s participation in the entire five-match series remains a doubt.
Former Indian Head Coach Believes Bumrah Can Play All Five Test Matches
Bharat Arun, Team India’s former head coach, is confident about Jasprit Bumrah playing all five tests against England only by implementing the proper management off the field:
“Yes! He can play all five matches by reducing the number of overs he bowls in a particular test match. Based on that, his practice sessions can be altered, as it is important for him to focus on working on his recovery as well. He needs to spend some time regaining his strength in the gym training sessions or attend some exercises with the physios.
So, it depends on how management handles him, so that Bumrah’s presence can be assured throughout the series to add huge value. It’s not just about his performance. Rather, he has a great bond with other bowlers, and I suggest the right management practices off the field could yield better results,” Arun said.
Conclusive Facts
Although Bharat Arun conveyed the right ideas, they are far from reality. This is because the Indian cricket team can’t make another wrong move, especially after Jasprit Bumrah recovered from a back injury, and a few months left for the T20 World Cup to commence in the next year. In conclusion, India is certain to face tough challenges in England. But, they need to ensure that their best pacers’ services are available when required. This could only become possible by providing him adequate rest and not burning him out with a heavy workload in the upcoming series.