Azharuddin Calls for India to Revamp Bowling Attack, Reduce Reliance on Bumrah in England Test

Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin has advised the national team to diversify their bowling options and reduce their dependence on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He specifically suggested including left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test against England at Edgbaston.

Jasprit Bumrah

This recommendation comes after India's five-wicket loss in the first Test at Headingley, despite strong batting performances from Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Azharuddin pointed out that repeated batting collapses and an over-reliance on Bumrah for both wickets and controlling the run rate contributed to the defeat.

“They are too much dependent on Bumrah. It’s not easy because you need more experienced bowlers, and they should play Kuldeep Yadav,” Azharuddin told PTI Videos. He believes Yadav's inclusion would provide greater control and variety to the bowling attack.

India is set to face England in the second Test, commencing on July 2 in Birmingham. Azharuddin emphasized that selecting the appropriate bowling combination is crucial for a strong comeback following the loss at Leeds, especially given the expected spin-friendly conditions later in the match.

“We lost because of the batting collapse, but now they have to pick the right players. Bowling has to be perfect,” he stated.

Furthermore, Azharuddin defended the new Test captain, Shubman Gill, who is leading India for the first time in this five-match series. “This is just his first match as captain. You can’t talk about captaincy so early. He should be given a fair chance, support, and time,” Azharuddin said.

The former captain, having led India in 47 Tests, highlighted the importance of patience. “We cannot just complain and criticise players like that,” he added.