Edgbaston Test Doubt: Jasprit Bumrah's Participation Questioned After Birmingham Training

Following a grueling five-hour training session in Birmingham on Friday, questions loom over whether Jasprit Bumrah will feature in the upcoming Edgbaston Test against England. The Indian team returned to the nets after their journey from Leeds and a subsequent day off.

While Bumrah was present at the ground, he refrained from both bowling and batting during the session. As the training was conducted behind closed doors, it remained unclear whether he was engaged in fitness exercises or practicing separately inside the venue. However, his absence from the visible net session has raised concerns. It's worth noting that the other two primary fast bowlers from the previous match, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, also abstained from batting. Siraj did take a turn with the bat before joining Bumrah and Prasidh inside.

Sources indicate that Bumrah's participation in the Edgbaston Test is uncertain. The Indian team had initially planned for him to play in only three of the five Tests against England. The original strategy involved him playing the first and third Tests, with a decision on either the fourth or fifth Test depending on the series situation. The schedule includes significant breaks between the first and second Tests, as well as between the third and fourth Tests.

However, it's crucial to emphasize that Bumrah has not been officially ruled out for the Edgbaston Test. Discussions regarding the team composition are yet to commence, and if Bumrah feels physically fit, he might indeed participate in the Test, which commences on Wednesday. India has scheduled an optional training session for Saturday, followed by a day of rest and then another extended session on Monday.

Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep bowled extensively during the net session. Arshdeep dedicated a significant portion of his time to bowling with an old, deliberately altered ball. He also bowled around the wicket to right-handed batsmen, potentially indicating a strategic decision by the Indian team based on anticipated conditions, with the expectation of reverse swing playing a significant role.

The team's prevailing sentiment is to avoid dwelling excessively on the defeat at Headingley, where they repeatedly found themselves in dominant positions only to squander them. The focus is on maintaining their established approach, consistently striving for advantageous situations, and improving their reactions in those crucial moments.