Gambhir: We Haven’t Decided Which Three Tests Bumrah Will Play, It Depends On Results And Where The Series Is Standing.”
India's captain and coach express faith in pace depth as Bumrah's workload remains under watch
India has not finalized which three Tests Jasprit Bumrah will feature in during the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Speaking at a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai, head coach Gautam Gambhir said a decision would be made after discussions with Bumrah and would depend on how the series progresses.
“We haven’t taken that call yet,” Gambhir said. “We’ll discuss it with him. A lot depends on the series trajectory. He understands the importance of that too.”
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier stated that medical experts had advised Bumrah against playing back-to-back Tests due to workload management concerns. The pacer suffered a back stress reaction during the fifth Test against Australia in January and returned to action only after missing the first four matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025.
India’s pace arsenal for the England tour includes Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh, with seam-bowling allrounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur adding further depth.
Captain Shubman Gill expressed confidence in the squad’s fast-bowling resources, stating, “We have a great mix of bowlers who can win us matches from any position. Having someone like Bumrah is a big plus, but the rest of the group is more than capable.”
Gambhir echoed the sentiment, referencing India’s Champions Trophy win without Bumrah. “It gives others a chance to step up. We have enough quality in the squad beyond just Bumrah.”
The Test series marks India’s first in the new 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle and the beginning of a new era following the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R Ashwin. Mohammed Shami is also absent due to injury.
The five-match series will begin at Headingley on June 20, followed by Tests at Edgbaston (July 2), Lord’s (July 10), Old Trafford (July 23), and The Oval (July 31). Before the series starts, India will play a four-day warm-up match against India A from June 13 to 16 at Beckenham.