Cricket

Should Jasprit Bumrah play the 4th & 5th Test? Anil Kumble opens up

Anil Kumble strongly advocates for Jasprit Bumrah to play both the 4th and 5th Tests against England. The former India captain asserts that Bumrah's presence is vital to save the series, despite workload management concerns.

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Should Jasprit Bumrah play

Former Indian spinner and commentator Anil Kumble has urged the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to push himself and play the remaining two Tests against England in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

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Notably, ahead of the start of the tour, Bumrah was advised to play only three out of the five Tests on the England tour. For the same reason, Bumrah revealed that he didn’t take up the captaincy offer to focus on workload management. 

Interestingly, after India lost the opening Test in Leeds, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated that Bumrah would participate in only three Tests and that there would be no changes to the plan.

"I would certainly, if I’m part of that group, push Bumrah to play the next game," Kumble told JioHotstar after the Lord’s game.

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"That’s crucial. If he doesn’t play and then we lose the Test, that’s it, the series is done and dusted. I think Bumrah should play both the remaining Tests. I know he’s said he’s going to play only three, but there’s a long break after this. He doesn’t have to play the home series; he can take a break if needed. But I believe he should be out there for the next two,” he added.

While the fourth Test is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, July 23, with an eight-day gap from the Lord’s Test, the fifth and the final Test is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 31, with only three days' gap from the fourth game.

While Bumrah had an excellent Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, he missed the major part of the Sydney Test due to his back injury. Later, he missed the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, which India went on to win successfully.

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However, he made a comeback for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League 2025 season. After the England tour, India is scheduled to take play against the West Indies at home in October 2025.

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