Latest news with #AjitAgarkar
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Shubman Gill Gives Big Update On Jasprit Bumrah's Availability For 5th IND-ENG Test
Before the start of the India-England Test series, it was confirmed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah himself that he will play only three Test matches in England. And now when he has played three matches for India, there are doubts in everyone's mind about whether Bumrah will be available for the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which is scheduled to take place at The Oval from July 31 to August 4. In an ideal scenario, Bumrah would miss the game as part of his workload management, but with the series on the line, there is a possibility that the 31-year-old fast bowler could play.
India Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
ENG vs IND: Yuvraj Singh credits Gambhir-Agarkar for Shubman Gill's Test form
In an exclusive interaction, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh praised Shubman Gill's Test captaincy and batting form, adding that Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir deserve credit for the Indian captain's sensational performance. "I think both his batting and captaincy are impressive. He's really taken on the responsibility. Test captaincy is a tough job, and the kind of performance he has given as a Test captain - that's exactly what being a Test captain means. He's been the best performer in the team, and he has proven it through his leadership. I'm sure Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar also deserve credit for building this team and entrusting him with that responsibility. And I think going forward, I hope India wins this Test series," Yuvraj Singh told India Today.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Uncertainty around the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah only benefits England, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH as mystery surrounds world's best bowler ahead of second test at Edgbaston
The uncertainty surrounding the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, the world's best bowler, in Wednesday's second Rothesay Test at Edgbaston has benefited only one team – and it's not India. It felt like a strategical blunder when chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar announced at the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai that Bumrah would play in only three of this summer's five Tests. And it feels even worse now that India are 1–0 down, having lost an apparently unlosable game at Headingley and already used up one-third of his quota. England are occasionally criticised for announcing their side 48 hours before each game, as they did again in Birmingham today when they confirmed an unchanged XI, and no immediate return for Jofra Archer. Critics believe it provides opponents with unnecessary pre-match information, but England like to give their players peace of mind. Since they believe the news will leak out anyway, they are happy to make it public. But for India to go so early on Bumrah has created a psychological micro-climate of its own – with England bouyed the fact that he will play in only two of the remaining four Tests, and India desperately trying to work out what they want from the non-Bumrah games to come. His importance to their chances was clear enough before the first Test, and became doubly so during it. While he collected five for 83 in the first innings to his team-mates' five for 356, his failure to take a wicket in the second left the Indians, predictably, with nowhere to go: England knocked off 371 with ease. Bumrah himself wants to play as many games as possible, but India feel their hands have been tied by the back trouble that flared up towards the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in January. In that series, he was captain for the first Test, while Rohit Sharma was on paternity leave, and for the fifth, when Rohit dropped himself, before quitting Test cricket in May But because India feared another five-match series in England could cause longer-term physical damage to their prize asset, they felt the need to explain why he wouldn't be taking over from Rohit on a permanent basis. Had Bumrah not been in the captaincy mix, India could have managed his summer schedule on the quiet. Instead, they have giftwrapped England a ready-made morale boost. And since Bumrah is as keen as any touring cricketer to play at Lord's, venue for the third Test, it is hard to see how he plays here at Edgbaston. It all meant India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate sounded defensive as he suggested that a draw this week in Birmingham wouldn't be the worst outcome. 'We feel we can go 1–1 or keep the score at 1–0 without Jasprit,' he said. 'That's putting the eggs in the back end of the series. We're going to need him at some stage as well. You've got to decide when you're going to play your strongest suit. But the bowlers are very well aware that they need to chip in with wickets.' England have opted not to select Jofra Archer as they have selected an unchanged side To add to the sense that India's primary concern is to avoid going two down, ten Doeschate also referenced a mixed weather forecast, with rain possible on the first, fourth and fifth days. And he suggested that, while the inclusion of a second spinner was likely, the need for batting depth would favour the off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar ahead of left-arm wrist-spinner – and tailender – Kuldeep Yadav. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a century against Australia at the MCG, could further strengthen the batting if he replaces Shardul Thakur. Such is Bumrah's value that his likely absence here has sent the Indian brains trust into a spin. England's challenge, by contrast, will be not to get too excited about the prospect of sidestepping Bumrah. 'I think the worry for us would be to focus too much on Jasprit, even though he is a world-class player,' said Chris Woakes, diplomatically. 'They've got guys that can come in and cause us issues.'
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
India's Batting Plan for 2nd Test vs England?
Shubman Gill and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were seen in deep conversation during India's nets session in Birmingham 🗣️💬A focused chat on technique, approach, and England's bowling threat? Here's a close look at the duo working out the plan before the 2nd this exclusive moment as India sharpen their strategy. 🎯#INDvsENG #ShubmanGill #AjitAgarkar #TeamIndia #BirminghamTest #IndiaNets #TestCricket #TOISports #IndianCricket #Gill #CricketStrategy Read More
Khaleej Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Bumrah told BCCI he did not want Test captaincy due to workload concerns
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah said he told India's cricket board (BCCI) that he did not want to be considered for the Test captaincy as his workload has to be carefully managed due to his back problems. The BCCI picked top-order batter Shubman Gill as captain following Rohit Sharma's decision to quit the test format last month, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar saying they could not risk burdening Bumrah with a leadership role. Gill will lead the side in a five-Test series against England starting in Leeds on Friday. "I have discussed about my workloads going forward in a five-Test match series, I've spoken to the people who have managed my back, I've spoken to the surgeon as well," Bumrah told Sky Sports on Tuesday. "I came to the conclusion that I have to be a little more smart, so I called the BCCI and said I don't want to be looked at in a leadership role." Bumrah had captained the side in Rohit's absence in the first two matches of a five-Test series in Australia at the end of last year. But the 31-year-old was then sidelined for three months after sustaining a stress-related back injury during the series finale in Sydney in January. Bumrah, who was named the ICC men's cricketer of the year in 2024, has suffered multiple back injuries throughout his career, including one that forced him to have surgery in 2023. He said the captaincy should not fall to someone who has to manage their workload in a five-Test series. "I had to say no as it's not fair for the team as well," he added. "It's not fair to the team if in a five-Test series, three matches somebody else is leading and two matches somebody else is leading. "I always wanted to put the team first."
