The Indian cricket team faced a setback in the first match of the Test series against England. Played at the iconic Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds, India had set a target of 371 runs for England, which they achieved with five wickets to spare. The second Test match of the series is now scheduled to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston.
Following the loss at Leeds, Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed a press conference. During this, Gambhir reiterated that Jasprit Bumrah would only participate in three Test matches during the England tour. With one match already played, Bumrah will sit out two of the remaining four matches. This absence could indeed heighten Team India's challenges. Gambhir stood by his bowlers, acknowledging their not-so-stellar performance in the Leeds Test while urging critics to refrain from constant post-match criticism.
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Gautam Gambhir emphasized, 'Managing Bumrah’s workload is paramount as we have many more games ahead. We are well aware of his capabilities. The plan for him playing three Test matches was set before the tour commenced. However, we will have to see his physical condition to decide which two further matches he will play.'
Gautam Gambhir continued, 'This bowling unit includes a bowler who has played five Test matches, another four, one with two, and one yet to debut. We need to give them time. Our past teams had four pace bowlers with over 40 Test matches of experience. Such experience counts when you are playing Test cricket in regions like Australia, England, or South Africa. These are just the initial days.'
Gambhir revealed, 'If we start assessing our bowlers after each Test, how will the bowling unit evolve? Apart from Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, the rest lack extensive experience but do possess quality. That is why they are in this dressing room. We need to keep supporting them; this is not just about one tour. We are aspiring to build a pace-bowling unit capable of serving Indian Test cricket for a long run.'
Gambhir's Insights on Harshit Rana
Fast bowler Harshit Rana wasn’t initially selected for the Test series against England, but later, he was included in the squad for the first match. Gambhir remarks, 'Harshit Rana was temporarily halted due to a minor injury, but he is fine now. I will discuss it further and then decide.'
In the Leeds Test match, Jasprit Bumrah claimed five wickets in the first innings. However, he didn't take home wickets in the second, serving an economical spell. Fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur managed to snatch two wickets each in the second innings, while the trio of Mohammad Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bumrah struggled to make a significant impact.
