Jasprit Bumrah asked to skip 1st Test against England

Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg has shared a bold tactical suggestion regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management in the upcoming Test series against England. Hogg stated that the team needs to manage Bumrah strategically over the three Tests in the series, given his game-changing abilities.

India have a major concern ahead of the five-match Test series against England. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that the BCCI medical team has advised managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload, adding that the pacer is unlikely to play in all matches. He had suffered a back injury earlier in the year.

You've Got to Be Very Strategic - Brad Hogg on Jasprit Bumrah's Workload Management

Speaking to RevSportz, Brad Hogg said that India should manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. He advised head coach Gautam Gambhir to rest Bumrah for the opening Test and use him for the second and third Tests. Hogg added that Bumrah's impact could be the most in the series.

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"You've got to be very strategic with those three Test matches," Hogg told RevSportz. "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 Don't Know Where You'd Play Him - Brad Hogg

Brad Hogg said that India should rest Jasprit Bumrah for the first Test at Headingley to gain a psychological edge over England. Hogg stated that it would increase their anxiety heading into the second and third Tests, where his inclusion could shift the momentum.

"And I don't know where you'd play him in the other three Test matches, but you want to make sure you play him in those crucial games."

"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," Hogg added.

First Test Between India and England to Commence on June 20

The five-match Test series between India and England will begin on Friday, June 20. The team is aiming for their first Test series win in England since 2007. Notably, the series ended 2-2 in their last visit in 2021–22, while India claimed a 4-1 win in the most recent home series between the two sides.

India will be without senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as Shubman Gill takes charge as Test captain for the first time. Bumrah has an impressive record in England with 37 wickets at an average of 26.27 from nine Tests. Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh are among the pacers.

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