Jasprit Bumrah Shines Amid India’s Struggles, Fitness Clouds

Leeds: Jasprit Bumrah continues to cement his place as a key figure in Indian cricket, even as the national team grapples with setbacks in the ongoing Test series. Despite India’s defeat at Leeds and missing out on a spot in the World Test Championship final for the first time, Bumrah stood tall with a remarkable five-wicket haul in the first innings. The 31-year-old pacer remains crucial to India's red-ball ambitions in the current WTC cycle. However, persistent injury concerns and workload management have cast uncertainty over his availability for the full five-match Test series. Sources indicate that Bumrah may feature in only three of the five games. Bumrah’s absence is already being felt, with India showing signs of vulnerability in his absence. Former England cricketer Allan Lamb echoed this concern in a recent interaction with PTI, stating, “The IPL has changed cricket in India and the world... But there's an over-reliance on players like Bumrah. That leaves the team exposed.” There is no official confirmation on whether Bumrah will play the second Test at Edgbaston. ESPN Cricinfo reported that while he skipped Friday’s practice, he had a full net session on Saturday. A final call on his inclusion will be made after an assessment of his fitness. With the third Test scheduled at Lord’s, Bumrah is likely to return to the XI if deemed fit. As India seeks redemption in the remainder of the series, all eyes remain on their pace spearhead.