Jasprit Bumrah to play the 2nd Test against England? India's assistant coach provides a big update

India fast bowling star Jasprit Bumrah is available for selection in the second Test against England that will begin on Wednesday at Birmingham, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Monday. However, the former Dutch player added that the final call on the playing 11 has not been made yet.

"With Jasprit Bumrah, he is ready to play, like I said, it is how we manage him, if we feel there is value in playing him in this Test we will make this call very last minute but we are talking about how the pitch is gonna play. We have seen him train yesterday and today, it is not that he is not fit to play, we are just trying to fit those puzzle pieces to get the most out of him," Doeschate said.

He also hinted at left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav featuring in the second Test.


"We would love to get him (Kuldeep Yadav) into the team, playing two all-rounders in the last game, it would be nice to have another spinner in the last game. We are trying to make."

After a five-wicket defeat in Leeds, there are questions around Bumrah’s availability. The pacer bowled about 44 overs across two innings in the first Test and took a five-wicket haul in the first essay. There were reports that he may be rested as part of workload management. The team management had earlier indicated he would play only three of the five Tests, but which ones remains uncertain.

India are 1-0 down in the series after failing to defend 371 in the first Test. With question marks over Bumrah's availability, the bowling will look far more depleted. On the other hand, ace pacer Jofra Archer returns for England and is set to take the field in at Edgbaston.

The five-Test series, part of the World Test Championship cycle, began with the Leeds Test from June 20 to 24. The second Test begins at Edgbaston on July 2, followed by matches at Lord’s (July 10–14), Old Trafford (July 23–27), and The Oval (July 31–August 4).