India’s fast bowling attack remains a mystery two weeks before the IND vs ENG 1st Test in Headingley. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are expected to lead the attack. However, Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests and could play at most three. Among the other pacers in the squad, only Shardul Thakur has featured in the 2 ‘A’ tour games before the India vs England series.
New look pace attack for India vs England
Mohammed Shami’s absence has left a gaping hole in India’s pace bowling attack. Shubman Gill’s options include Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep alongside pace bowling all-rounders Nitish Reddy and Shardul Thakur. Barring Shardul, none of India’s other options have played a Test before in English conditions.
To add to Gill and Gambhir’s woes, none of Prasidh, Arshdeep and Akash Deep have featured for India A in the tour games. Both Prasidh and Arshdeep saw their teams make a deep run in IPL 2025, while Akash Deep also stayed back than join the India A squad.
Shardul, who played a pivotal role in the 2021/22 series, featured in both the India ‘A’ games. He bowled 28 overs in the first game, picking up 2/105 on a flat deck in Canterbury. Overall, he has 10 wickets in English conditions, averaging 37.10. Nitish Reddy sent down 15 overs in the same game, dismissing tailender Eddie Jack as his only scalp.
Bumrah, Siraj and who?
Arshdeep Singh is yet to make his Test debut has previously played in County Cricket. The selectors believe he offers variety to the Indian attack and could feature alongside Bumrah and Siraj. The 25-year-old is the only left-arm pacer in the Indian squad and can swing the ball both ways.
Akash Deep has been part of the Indian set-up for the last couple of years, featuring sporadically. In his 7 tests, he has 15 wickets, including 5 in the 2 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests in Australia. Among the options, he is the most experienced with Prasidh having only featured in 3.
Krishna, however, comes into the India vs England series on the back of some good form. He was the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025 with 25 wickets in 15 games. Deep, who plays for LSG, only featured in a handful games after being dropped for poor form.
Krishna is likely the front runner to feature as the 3rd pacer, with Arshdeep Singh as the other likely option.
India’s pace attack with Jasprit Bumrah: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur
Who plays in Bumrah’s absence?
Coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will not play all 5 Tests in the India vs England series. Should Bumrah not feature, India could play both Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna. The duo could partner with Mohammed Siraj.
Should the conditions feature, India could play an extra spinner. Kuldeep Yadav is part of the Indian team, but Ravindra Jadeja is set to dovetail as the all-rounder/lead spinner. Gill could also opt to feature both pace bowling all-rounders, aiming to strengthen the batting.
India’s pace attack without Jasprit Bumrah: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Shardul Thakur.
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