Bumrah Returns to Nets as India Sharpen Bowling Attack for Edgbaston Test

Bumrah Back in Action: 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 squarely onto their bowling attack. After missing Friday's initial session, Bumrah's presence in the nets was closely watched, particularly given the ongoing uncertainty 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 fueled speculation about their fitness for the Birmingham Test.

However, Saturday brought a significant boost to India's pace options. Bumrah, Prasidh, and Mohammed Siraj all bowled in the nets, with Siraj building on his batting practice from the previous day. 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 were captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, all of whom had engaged in extensive batting practice on Friday, with Gill and Pant spending considerable time in the nets.

While Bumrah's return is encouraging, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled a demanding 44 overs in the series opener and is scheduled to participate in only three of the five Tests as part of a workload management strategy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized, following the Headingley loss, that the decision regarding Bumrah's participation will be made on a match-to-match basis, irrespective of the series scoreline.

With bowling now taking center stage in India's practice sessions, the team will be hoping their key bowlers are fully prepared as they seek to level the series at Edgbaston.