India’s five-Test series in England, starting June 20 at Headingley will mark the beginning of a new era. With no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, this series will feature a young captain, a changing batting core, and a fast-bowling spearhead being managed with extreme caution.
Jasprit Bumrah, recently back from injury, is unlikely to play all five matches, and Aakash Chopra believes his appearances must be strategically chosen.
When do India want Jasprit Bumrah?
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Bumrah won’t be playing back-to-back matches due to workload concerns. The pacer had suffered a stress reaction in the back during India’s final Test against Australia in January and missed the Champions Trophy. He returned to action for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, but his Test match usage remains a key talking point.
Speaking on JioHotstar, former opener Aakash Chopra said, “It’ll be tempting to play him in tougher conditions—because in difficult situations, you want your best players. You’d want Kohli in a crunch chase; similarly, you want Bumrah in bowler-friendly conditions.”
He added, “The Oval and Birmingham will be trickier. The pitches are flatter, and you’ll need very experienced bowlers. The call will come down to how Bumrah’s body is responding. But if it were up to me, I’d play him where the conditions are toughest—because that’s where he gives you the biggest edge.”
India will be without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom retired from Test cricket last month. With Shubman Gill now leading a young side, Chopra feels expectations need to be realigned.
“Expectations will make the challenge harder. But with a new team, there’s some cushioning. People believe this is a team of youngsters, and with that comes a longer rope,” he said. “The pressure is still there—but it’s different from the pressure an experienced team faces, where the only expectation is to win.”
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