Jasprit Bumrah Returns to Nets as India Steps Up Bowling Prep for Edgbaston Test OR Bumrah Back in Action: India Fine-Tunes Bowling Attack Ahead of Edgbaston Test

Bumrah Back in Action as India Intensifies Bowling Practice for Edgbaston Test

Jasprit Bumrah made a return to training on Saturday, shifting the focus to bowling as Team India continued their preparations for the Edgbaston Test. After missing Friday's opening session, Bumrah's presence at the nets sparked interest, especially given the uncertainty surrounding his participation in the second Test against England.

Following a five-wicket defeat at Headingley, which left them trailing 0-1 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India began their preparations on Friday. While the entire squad participated in practice, Bumrah and fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna were absent from active drills, fueling speculation about their readiness for the Birmingham Test.

However, Saturday brought a positive development for India's pace attack. Bumrah, Prasidh, and Mohammed Siraj all bowled at the nets, with Siraj also working on his batting following his session on Day 1. Their return to bowling added intensity to India's preparations as the team aims to rebound in Birmingham.

Among the batters, Sai Sudharsan, who debuted in the Headingley Test, was the first to practice in the nets on Day 2. Notably absent from Saturday's training were captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. All four had engaged in extensive batting practice on Friday, with Gill and Pant spending considerable time in the nets.

While Bumrah's return is encouraging, his inclusion in the Edgbaston XI remains uncertain. The 31-year-old bowled 44 overs in the series opener and is scheduled to participate in only three of the five Tests as part of a workload management strategy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized after the Headingley loss that the decision regarding Bumrah's participation will be made on a match-to-match basis, regardless of the series score.

With bowling now taking center stage in India's practice sessions, the team hopes their key bowlers will be ready for the battle as they aim for a series-leveling victory at Edgbaston.