India’s decision to publicly declare Jasprit Bumrah’s limited availability for the ongoing Test series against England has drawn criticism from former opener Aakash Chopra, who questioned head coach Gautam Gambhir’s handling of what he called a “strategic error”.
India lost the first Test at Leeds and now trail the five-match series 0-1. With Bumrah likely to sit out the second Test at Edgbaston, starting 2 July, Chopra believes that the disclosure of the pace spearhead’s schedule has handed England an undue psychological and tactical edge.
‘Let them guess’
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Bumrah said he will play three matches only, and I am thinking whether it was required to publicise it. Why was it not kept a secret? We don’t announce our team as well. So why was it necessary to reiterate it repeatedly before the start of the tour that he would play three matches only? Let them guess. You play whichever Tests you wish.”
He continued, “You have played one, and you know you can play only two of the remaining four matches, which is not a good thing. If you play the second as well, you will play one of three. So, suddenly, the opposition gets into a great frame of mind that Bumrah, your biggest strength, is also not there. You can prepare pitches accordingly.”
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Pacing a pace transition
India’s pace battery has long been the cornerstone of its overseas success. However, Chopra raised concern about the team’s dependence on an ageing pool of fast bowlers, calling for the emergence of a fresh cohort.
“The next generation of Indian fast bowlers will have to be prepared. It’s a serious issue. There were two important pillars of India’s good performance away from home. One was batters starting to score runs, but it doesn’t work out with that, as you need to pick up 20 wickets. So Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj were outstanding with Jasprit Bumrah,” Chopra said.
He also reflected on earlier success stories: “I also remember Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Lord’s Test. When there are doubts about Bumrah’s availability, who will take the responsibility going forward, because Mohammad Shami, I think that story is not over, but it is close to an ending. Mohammed Siraj is good, but he hasn’t reached the rank of Bumrah or Shami.”
With India now under pressure to level the series at Edgbaston, the conversation has shifted from mere selection to strategic depth. Bumrah’s absence, if confirmed, may force India to field an inexperienced pace line-up, adding to the urgency of grooming successors capable of leading overseas assaults.
The Indian team management has not officially confirmed Bumrah’s exclusion for the second Test, but Gambhir’s earlier remark has effectively set expectations for both camps.
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