Jasprit Bumrah is India’s trump card and their tightrope walk. With the five-match England Test series just a few days away, conversations around Bumrah are more about his availability. After bowling more than any other fast bowler in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and breaking down during the final Test, the worry now is how long he can last.
Former cricketers and experts are weighing in, and the latest voice is Brad Hogg’s, with a bold suggestion to rest Bumrah for the first Test to keep him fresh for the bigger battles ahead. But for a team desperate to start strong in English conditions, that’s easier said than done.
“Don’t play Bumrah in the first Test”: Hogg’s surprise suggestion
Speaking to RevSportz, Hogg said that Bumrah should be preserved for key venues like Lord’s and Edgbaston, where the ball tends to move and where match-turning spells can define entire series. “You’ve got to be strategic,” Hogg explained. “He’s a match-winner, so use him where it matters most. Where are you going to get the most benefit out of him? Because he can turn the game, he can turn the series on its head. So you want to make sure that you play him at Lord’s, definitely, and probably Warwickshire.”
“I probably wouldn’t even play him in the first Test match, actually. I’d just go, ‘Right, England, we don’t have Bumrah.’ And you could just see England thinking, ‘Oh, they don’t have Bumrah – that’s good, we don’t have to face him.’ But then they’re going to start worrying about him in the second Test match. And if he turns the tide in the second match, then all of a sudden England are playing catch-up. So I’d add a bit of by-play there. “
It’s an intriguing tactical move, but unlikely to align with India’s plans. The first Test of an away tour often sets the tone, and India, still smarting from a 3-1 BGT loss, will be desperate to start strong. Before that, India succumbed to their first-ever Test series loss at home in 12 years to New Zealand. Now, to go for a battle in Leeds against England, that may not be possible without Bumrah leading the attack.
Jasprit Bumrah stats in England
- Matches: 9
- Wickets: 37
- Average: 26.27
- Best Bowling Figures: 5/64
- Five-wicket hauls: 2
Most balls bowled per innings at BGT 2024/25
| Player | Balls bowled per innings |
|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 100.8 |
| Pat Cummins | 100.2 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 94.3 |
| Mitchell Starc | 92 |
