Credit: BCCI
As India head into the second Test of the five-match series at Edgbaston following its defeat at Headingley in the first Test against England last week, there have been a lot of speculation around Jasprit Bumrah' s status. Amid that, during his pre-match press conference, the Indian cricket team’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate gave an update on the spearhead of Indian pace attack, stating that Jasprit Bumrah is available for selection, but his inclusion in the playing eleven is yet to be confirmed for the second Test.
In the pre-match press conference, Ryan ten Doeschate said, “Jasprit Bumrah is available but we haven’t made a call whether he will play this game or not.” He further added, “If we feel there is value in playing him in this Test we will make this call at the very last minute.” The uncertainty around Bumrah isn’t a question of fitness but one of long-term planning. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had earlier confirmed that Bumrah would feature in only three out of the five tests in the series as part of a pre-decided workload management plan.
Experts claim that such a plan came into existence as Jasprit Bumrah got injured after Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia at the turn of the year due to bowling over 150 overs, as a result he ended up suffering a back injury in the final test. In the Headingley Test, Bumrah faced a heavy workload in the series, having bowled 43.4 overs, the most by any pace bowler from both the teams. Bumrah took a five-wicket-haul in the first innings of that test, but went wicketless in the second.
Kuldeep Yadav or Nitish Kumar Reddy might get a chance to play for India in 2nd Test vs England
Ryan ten Doeschate also hinted that either Kuldeep Yadav or Nitish Kumar Reddy might play the Edgbaston Test. The Dutchman said, “Nitish Kumar Reddy is very close to getting a game.” Regarding the possible inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav the assistant coach said, “We would love to get him (Kuldeep Yadav) into the team, playing two all-rounders in the last game, it would be nice to have another spinner in the last game. We are trying to make it.”
Uncertainty looms over these changes in the playing eleven of the Indian cricket team, who will hoping to get a win and equalling the series tally after the second Test against England.
