Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be rested for the second Test against England due to ongoing workload management considerations.
Jasprit Bumrah Likely to Be Rested Despite India’s Struggles Ahead of Edgbaston Test
As India looks to bounce back in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, their most lethal weapon, Jasprit Bumrah, is expected to sit out—a move drawing criticism from fans after the team’s five-wicket loss in the series opener at Headingley. Jasprit Bumrah, the lone standout in an otherwise underwhelming bowling unit, had claimed a brilliant five-wicket haul and bowled tirelessly, but the rest of the attack lacked consistency, penetration, and control.
The team management had made it clear before the tour began that Bumrah—returning to red-ball cricket in 2024 after a long injury layoff—would not feature in all five matches. However, with India trailing in the series and facing a visibly inexperienced pace lineup, resting him despite a full seven-day gap has sparked debate. Fans and pundits alike are asking whether India can afford to manage their ace so conservatively while the rest of the attack struggles to step up.
From a workload perspective, the numbers justify India’s caution. Bumrah has bowled 410.4 overs in Test cricket in 2024—more than any other fast bowler worldwide. Australia’s Mitchell Starc follows with 362.3 overs, well behind. Among Indian bowlers, Mohammed Siraj—who has also played 15 Tests—has bowled 355.3 overs, further highlighting the massive burden Bumrah has carried.
Unsurprisingly, Bumrah leads the list of wicket-takers among pacers this year with 78 wickets, far ahead of England’s Gus Atkinson, who has 55. Even more telling, Siraj has bowled nearly 27 overs more than Atkinson but taken 14 fewer wickets, reinforcing just how indispensable Bumrah has become to India’s Test setup.
Most overs in Test cricket (since January 1, 2024)
- Jasprit Bumrah – 410.4 (78 wickets)
- Mitchell Starc – 362.3 (48 wickets)
- Pat Cummins – 359.1 (51 wickets)
- Mohammed Siraj – 355.3 (41 wickets)
- Gus Atkinson – 328 (55 wickets)
Jasprit Bumrah has not only bowled the most overs among pacers globally in 2024, but also leads all Indian bowlers across formats with 410.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja is a distant second at 400.1, underlining just how heavily Bumrah has been leaned on. His dominance over the past year is unquestionable—but so is the risk India runs by continuing to push a bowler with a history of back injuries, especially with a packed calendar ahead.
India’s management is understandably cautious, managing Bumrah’s workload with long-term sustainability in mind. Yet, this careful approach comes at a time when the team can least afford restraint. The defeat in Leeds highlighted a glaring issue: India’s over-reliance on Bumrah. The trio of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur failed to make an impact, appearing largely ineffective and exposing the lack of depth in India’s pace attack.
At Edgbaston, India may be forced to look elsewhere for answers. With Bumrah likely to be rested, Arshdeep Singh could be handed a Test debut, while Siraj—despite his inconsistencies—may have to step up as the leader of the pace unit. It’s a high-stakes gamble in a series already slipping away.
