Bumrah Boosts India's Edgbaston Hopes with Return to Bowling Drills

Bumrah Back in Action as India Intensifies Bowling Drills for Edgbaston Test

Jasprit Bumrah made a return to training on Saturday, as Team India ramped up their bowling preparations for the upcoming Edgbaston Test. The second day of practice in Birmingham saw a significant focus on bowling drills, with Bumrah's presence drawing considerable attention.

Bumrah had notably skipped Friday's opening session, leading to speculation about his fitness and availability for the crucial second Test against England.

Following a disappointing five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which put them 0-1 down in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the Indian squad wasted no time in getting back to work. While the entire squad was present for practice on Friday, the absence of Bumrah and fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna from active drills fueled concerns about their readiness for the Birmingham Test.

However, Saturday brought positive news for India's pace attack. Bumrah, Prasidh, and Mohammed Siraj all bowled in the nets. This injection of pace brought renewed energy to the team's preparations.

Among the batsmen, Sai Sudharsan, who made his debut in the Headingley Test, was the first to practice in the nets on Day 2. Notably absent from Saturday's training session were captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. All four players had engaged in extensive batting practice on Friday, with Gill and Pant spending considerable time in the nets.

While Bumrah's return to training is a welcome development, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled 44 overs in the series opener. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized that the decision regarding Bumrah’s participation will be made on a match-to-match basis, irrespective of the series situation.

With bowling now taking center stage in India's practice sessions, the team will be hoping their key bowlers are fully prepared as they aim for a series-leveling victory at Edgbaston.