TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: The Indian cricket team began their preparations for the second Test against England with their first net session on Friday at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The players hit the ground for their maiden practice since the five-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Headingley, which saw England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!All members of the squad were present at the ground, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, although he did not participate in any on-field activity. Prasidh Krishna was also not seen bowling or engaging in drills, while the rest of the unit underwent a full-fledged training session. Mohammed Siraj spent considerable time working on his batting, and head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having extended conversations with pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep.
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Should Jasprit Bumrah be rested for the second Test?
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant batted in the nets, while other bowlers, barring Bumrah and Prasidh, went through their bowling routines. The mood in the camp appeared relaxed despite the scrutiny surrounding the team following their Leeds loss. The squad, currently in its transition phase, continues to be backed by the team leadership, with senior players supporting the younger members.
On Thursday, the players enjoyed a team bonding activity at an adventure park in Birmingham, a refreshing break before resuming the grind of the Test series.However, all eyes are now on the Bumrah question. The ace fast bowler bowled 44 overs in the first Test and is expected to feature in only three matches this series to manage his workload. Head coach Gambhir reiterated this stance in the post-match press conference, stating that the scoreline won’t dictate Bumrah’s appearances and the decision will be taken game-by-game.
With only four days separating the second Test at Edgbaston (July 2–6) and the third at Lord’s (July 10–14), indications suggest Birmingham could be the scheduled rest match for Bumrah. Both Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar have maintained the need for workload management, hinting that Bumrah’s availability will be determined with a long-term view, irrespective of the series situation.
