Jasprit Bumrah could miss part of India’s upcoming Test series against England as a precautionary measure, says the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar. The series begins on 20th June at Headingley, but Bumrah might sit out one or two of the five matches.
Discussing the selection for the tour, Agarkar highlighted Bumrah’s workload management, which has been closely monitored by medical professionals. Bumrah’s recent back stress reaction, suffered during January’s Test against Australia, led to him missing action for some time, including the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, he made a successful return with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025.
“I don’t think he [Bumrah] will be available for all five Tests, the physios and the doctors have told us,” Agarkar noted at the announcement of the Test squad. “Whether it’s four or three [Tests], we will see how the series goes and how his body can take the workload.” Agarkar emphasised Bumrah’s significance to the team, expressing satisfaction with his recovery and current form.
This will be Bumrah’s third Test series in England, where he has previously taken 37 wickets in eight Tests, maintaining an impressive average. Despite his fitness hurdles, discussions once floated about Bumrah as a potential Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Yet, Agarkar confirmed Shubman Gill as the “unanimous” choice for the role, given the uncertainty surrounding Bumrah’s availability for the full series.
“Booms [Bumrah], because he led in Australia, he was the vice-captain for, but once he’s not going to be available for all the Test matches (he couldn’t be part of the captaincy conversation),” Agarkar stated, emphasising the importance of maintaining Bumrah’s fitness over assigning him leadership duties.
Bumrah is mindful of the situation and prioritises his ability to perform as a bowler. Post his back surgery in March 2023, managing his workload remains critical to ensuring his long-term availability on the cricketing stage.
