“Bumrah Can Play All Five Tests If Managed Well” – Bharat Arun on India’s Bowling Strategy for England Tour

Team India’s tour of England is set to start on June 20, 2025, with both teams preparing for a five-match Test series. Under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, a new chapter will begin for India in Test cricket. But looking at the bowling options in the squad fans know it’s going to be a relatively inexperienced group overall.

Jasprit Bumrah is in the squad, but the big question is whether he will be available for all five matches, especially with concerns about his fitness. When the team was announced, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said, “We’ve talked to him and he’s okay with it. He knows how his body feels and wants to take care of himself to stay fit for bowling. It’s more about managing his workload and keeping him bowling-fit rather than anything else.”

In a media talk, head coach Gautam Gambhir also spoke about this, saying they haven’t yet decided which three matches Bumrah will play and the decision will depend on how the series goes.

“Bumrah Needs the Right Support From Other Bowlers” – Arun on Workload Management

On the topic of managing Bumrah’s workload, former Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun, who was part of the 2021 England tour. When asked about workload management for Bumrah, Bharat said, “See, bowling too much or too little both can cause injuries. That’s the perfect way to get a bowler hurt. So, we can’t fully control how many overs Jasprit Bumrah bowls in a match.”

“But handling him carefully will be very important,” Bharat added.

“Bumrah’s Presence Lifts the Entire Bowling Unit” – Arun on Team Impact

He explained further, “Based on how many overs he bowls, his practice sessions can be adjusted. Sometimes he might focus more on recovery, or do strength training in the gym, or work with physios. So, managing him well is very important. And as you said, Bumrah’s presence in the team is a big boost. Not only does he perform well, but he also lifts the other bowlers.”

Bharat went on, “The confidence the team gets from having Jasprit Bumrah around adds a lot of value. Ideally, I would want him to play all the Test matches. If the other bowlers support him well, Bumrah can be saved from too much workload and still play all five Tests.”

He finished by saying, “If he has to bowl too much, then he probably won’t be ready for all five matches. So, how the other bowlers support him is very important. We have to take it match by match, rather than deciding in advance that he will only play the first three Tests and then rest. The other bowlers need to bowl well so Bumrah can be part of all the matches.”

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