Jasprit Bumrah ran in hard for roughly 30 minutes at an optional session in Birmingham on Saturday, giving India’s coaching staff a welcome sight before the second Test. The right-arm quick, fresh from back surgery last year, bowled at full pace and appeared comfortable. Whether he plays at Edgbaston will be decided closer to Wednesday, with medical staff keen to see how his body responds overnight.
Only the first-Test centurions – skipper Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal – skipped practice, taking a deserved breather. Everyone else reported for duty, and the emphasis fell squarely on the tail. After collapses of 7 for 41 and 6 for 31 at Headingley, the lower order received extended batting time. “We want our bowlers to hang around and scrap for every run,” batting coach Vikram Rathour told the team huddle. “Ten or fifteen extra can swing a match here.”
Recent tours underline the point. India’s last four wickets averaged just 19.11 in 2021 and 16.35 in 2018 on these shores, well below the returns posted by home sides. A tired visiting attack and unfamiliar conditions often combine to hand local tails the edge; India would like to buck that trend.
Bumrah’s workload is the other puzzle. He was rested from Friday’s nets, then returned at full tilt on Saturday, mixing yorkers with the occasional bouncer. “He looks sharp,” a support-staff member said, “but we’ll wait until Monday before locking anything in.”
Sunday is a scheduled day off. The squad resumes with a longer workout on Monday, then eases off again on Tuesday. Fast bowlers in line to play – whether Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj or Mukesh Kumar – are expected to skip the final hit-out to stay fresh.
Analytically, India face a choice: stick with the conservative three-seamer, one-spinner template that failed to claim 20 wickets at Leeds, or bring in an extra quick and attack. Former selector Sarandeep Singh favours the latter. “You won’t win here by waiting,” he said on a local radio show. “Go with pace, keep the spinner as control.”
The next 48 hours will reveal how bold India wish to be – and whether their spearhead has convinced them he is ready.
