India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that the management won’t budge from the three-match utilisation of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah despite enduring a five-wicket setback in the series opener against England at Headingley. During the announcement of India’s squad for the Test tour of England, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed Bumrah was advised not to contest in consecutive Tests as part of his workload management. The precaution around Bumrah’s usage stems from a stress reaction in the back during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney in January.The management decided to cash in Bumrah’s services for the opening Test, and the 31-year-old, classified as the current “world best”, notched up his 12th five-wicket haul for India away from home, tying with the legendary Kapil Dev. He played a starring role and returned with figures of 5/83 in the first innings.
Bumrah’s magic faded in the second innings as he chased the shadows of his past self. During India’s failed attempt to defend a 371-run target, Bumrah went wicketless as India succumbed to its fate and surrendered a five-wicket defeat.
With India trailing 0-1 in the series, Gambhir shrugged off suggestions about deploying Bumrah in more than three Tests, stating that managing his workload is more “important.”
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