India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has confirmed that he will likely feature in three of the five Tests in the upcoming high-stakes series against England, beginning June 20.
The series marks the start of India’s new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and also signals Bumrah’s return to red-ball cricket after a prolonged injury layoff.
The premier fast bowler has been out of action since suffering a back injury during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January against Australia. It was the second major setback to his back in recent years, raising concerns over his long-term availability across formats.
In a candid interview with Dinesh Karthik for Sky Sports Cricket, Bumrah admitted that while he is eager to return, he is mindful of his workload and fitness.
“Plan on the go. Three Test matches is what I’m looking at,” Bumrah said.
“The number isn’t fixed, but the first Test is definitely on. After that, we’ll evaluate based on workload and match scenarios. But yes, three is what I can manage at the moment.”
This measured return is consistent with Bumrah’s recent decision to step away from leadership duties, citing concerns over physical sustainability.
“I don’t want to push myself to a point where I can’t play this format anymore. That’s why I said no to the captaincy. I love cricket more than the title,” he had said in a separate interview.
With Shubman Gill taking over Test captaincy following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format, Bumrah’s experience will still be crucial for India — even if not in all five games. His presence, even in a limited capacity, is expected to bolster India’s bowling attack significantly as they begin their WTC journey on English soil.
