India Vs England: Bumrah’s Workload Management, Availability Under Spotlight In Five-Test Series

Jasprit Bumrah is likely to miss the second Test of the India vs England series at Edgbaston due to workload management concerns

Updated on: 30 June 2025 3:39 pm

Indias Jasprit Bumrah, left, bowls a delivery on day five. AP

India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, bowls a delivery on day five of the first cricket test match between England and India at Headingley in Leeds, England. AP Photo/Scott Heppell

Jasprit Bumrah’s availability in the India vs England Test series is under the spotlight, with uncertainty surrounding his participation in the second Test starting July 2 at Edgbaston. He is likely to be rested as part of a pre-planned workload management strategy, with reports suggesting he may feature in only three of the five Tests on this tour.

As per a report in The Indian Express, the decision to manage Bumrah’s workload was made well in advance. Having only recently returned to red-ball cricket after a lengthy injury layoff, Bumrah played a crucial role in the first Test at Headingley, picking up a brilliant five-wicket haul.

However, India still suffered a five-wicket defeat, largely due to poor fielding and a lack of support from the rest of the bowling unit.

People have since raised concerns over the decision, some questioning the logic of restricting India’s premier fast bowler, others the lack of secrecy around it.

Among them is former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, who expressed surprise at reports suggesting Bumrah would play only three of the five Tests. Calling Test cricket the “ultimate format,” de Villiers said a fully fit Bumrah should be available throughout a marquee series like this, and hinted that India may be mismanaging their most valuable bowling asset.

However, former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the decision to make that information public.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said there was no need to reveal Bumrah’s availability in advance and suggested that keeping England guessing would have been a smarter move. “Why publicise it? Let them guess. We don’t even announce our playing XI early,” he remarked.

For now, Bumrah’s participation in the second Test of the India vs England series remains uncertain. It will be interesting to see how the Indian team, heavily reliant on him, adjusts in his absence and who ultimately makes the call, whether it is Bumrah himself or the coaches.

This five-match series against England marks the beginning of India’s journey in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. With Shubman Gill leading the side, India are competing for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Having lost the opening Test, the team will be eager to bounce back in what promises to be a hard-fought and high-stakes series.

It’s the first of six WTC series India will play, three at home and three away, totalling 18 Tests over the next two years.