Ready for Headingley, can play only three Tests in England: Jasprit Bumrah
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has confirmed his availability for the opening Test of the five-match series against England, set to begin at Headingley on June 20. Amid lingering concerns around his fitness, Bumrah assured that he is ready for the first match, while also revealing that he plans to play three Tests in the series.Speaking to Dinesh Karthik during a Sky Sports interview, Bumrah shared an update on his workload management, stating that while the first Test is definitely on, the rest will depend on match conditions and his physical readiness.advertisement'I'm definitely looking at playing three Test matches. That's the plan for now. Obviously, the exact number is not fixed yet, but the first one is certainly on. We'll have to see how things go — the workload, the match scenarios, all of that. But yes, at this moment, three Tests is what I feel I can manage comfortably without putting myself in a desperate situation," Bumrah said.
"Also, there's another side to it. As a captain, I can't just dictate terms saying, 'I'll only play three games.' That doesn't send the right message to the team. So, keeping all of that in mind, I'm trying to give my best as a player, contribute as much as I can, and hopefully, in the matches I do play, I give it my absolute best,' he added.advertisementWith Shubman Gill taking over as India's new Test captain, Bumrah will be the senior-most figure in the bowling lineup. His experience becomes all the more crucial in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have stepped away from red-ball cricket. Bumrah was among the names considered for the captaincy, especially after having led India in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. However, he turned down the leadership role, citing workload and fitness management as key reasons.Bumrah's fitness has long been a topic of concern. The pacer has faced multiple injury setbacks in recent years, including one during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that forced him out mid-series and ruled him out of the Champions Trophy, which India went on to win under Rohit Sharma. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, while announcing the squad, had also confirmed that Bumrah would be available for only three Tests in the England series—though which ones remain flexible depending on his condition.As 25-year-old Gill leads the team for the first time, Bumrah's presence will be pivotal in guiding India's bowling unit through one of the toughest away assignments in Test cricket.
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Hindustan Times
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- Hindustan Times
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The Hindu
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