India vs England 2nd Test: Who Will Replace Jasprit Bumrah at Edgbaston?

The idea of resting Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming India vs England Test at Edgbaston has left many Indian cricket fans worried, especially after the team’s five-wicket loss in Leeds. Their big question is, if not Bumrah, then who? While bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur did try to step up, their inconsistent bowling made it hard to control the English batters. Bumrah was the only one who really made a mark in the first innings. And when he went wicketless in the second, India looked flat and struggled to stop England's chase.

In Birmingham, where England once pulled off a record chase, India could face a big setback if Jasprit Bumrah doesn't play. While he hasn’t officially been ruled out of the Edgbaston Test, there's a strong chance he might miss it. Without him, India’s bowling attack could really struggle.

On the bench, India has two pace options, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh. Apart from them, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar can also step in, though they're not out-and-out fast bowlers. If India is looking for a seam-bowling all-rounder, Nitish Reddy could be considered. But Reddy is mainly known for his batting and might just bowl a few overs. It’s unlikely that someone like Shubman Gill would rely on him for long bowling spells.

Dry Edgbaston Pitch Could Trouble India Without Bumrah

The pitch at Edgbaston is expected to play a lot like the one at Headingley. Traditionally, it’s been a good surface for batting, though there’s usually some seam movement early on and spin comes into play later, especially on Days 4 and 5. India has never won at this ground, and with England experiencing a dry summer and lower than usual rainfall, the pitch is likely to be quite dry, which should make things easier for the batters.

On such pitches, bowlers are likely to struggle apart from the first two sessions of the Test match. In such a situation, if India are without Jasprit Bumrah, it could be a difficult affair for the bowling unit. Bumrah not only bowled wicket-taking deliveries, but he also kept England in check. On the other end, Siraj and Prasidh were erratic in the 1st innings.

“Just look at his (Prasidh) economy combining both innings. He is at No. 2 in terms of the worst economy for a fast bowler in history. Bumrah has this economy in T20s, nearly 6.50. So, he will have to concentrate on his economy. He has good height and pace. He will have to learn as soon as possible how to bowl a consistent area according to the batter,” former India pacer Irfan Pathan said on Sony Sports.

Who Will Replace Jasprit Bumrah in the IND vs ENG Test?

That brings up the question again, if Jasprit Bumrah isn’t available for the IND vs ENG Test, who will take his place? If the pitch helps spinners, India might go with Kuldeep Yadav. But there could also be a change in the fast bowling line-up. It didn’t look like captain Shubman Gill had much faith in Shardul Thakur’s bowling. Shardul only bowled 16 overs in the whole match. Even though he took two wickets in two balls, he wasn’t used much overall.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has been raring to go in red-ball cricket, could give India an option. He has a knack for taking wickets and could bowl with the new ball. He could swing the ball both ways with the new ball, giving India a cover for Bumrah. The other option could be Akash Deep. The Bengal pacer has bowled dominant spells earlier. But, he has been unlucky not to get wickets.

India is expected to make changes carefully. In the Leeds Test, the team collapsed in both innings due to a weak lower order with little batting support. To fix this, India might bring in Nitish Reddy or Washington Sundar at No. 8 in place of Kuldeep Yadav, to strengthen the batting. Arshdeep Singh could also be handed a Test debut as a backup for Jasprit Bumrah. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj are likely to keep their spots. But if the team decides to shake things up, Arshdeep might come in for Prasidh, and Reddy could replace Shardul Thakur.

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