3 players who can replace Jasprit Bumrah in the second India vs England Test

The updates coming up from Birmingham suggest that India's pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, will not play the second Test. The touring side knew about the requirement of Bumrah's workload management in the five-match Test series well in advance. And yet, the prospect of the pacer missing even a single India vs England match is a threatening situation to deal with. The opening Test at Headingley saw all the bowlers, barring Bumrah, struggle against the English batters. As the proceedings now move to Birmingham, their only performer with the cherry in Leeds will mark an absence. How the visitors fill this gaping void will be a crucial factor in their plans for the match.

Can India cope without Jasprit Bumrah in the Edgbaston Test?

Despite piling as many as five centuries and over 800 runs, the guests lost the first India vs England Test by 5 wickets in Leeds. Many aspects conspired to script India's fall at Headingley, the lack of sharpness in the bowling attack being a crucial one. In the first innings, with England coming out against the 471-run lead imposed by India, only Bumrah seemed to trouble the hosts. The speedster drew first blood in the opening over, sending Zak Crawley back for just 4. However, despite suffering an early setback, England found their feet as the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and later Shardul Thakur failed to keep up with Bumrah.

While Bumrah maintained a tight grip at his end, runs leaked from the other as Siraj and Krishna failed to hit the right lengths. Despite the lack of support from the other bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings. However, the shortcomings of the attack overall led to England nearly wiping out the lead. In the second innings, with 371 to defend for the win, even Bumrah struggled on the dead surface of Headingley. Prasidh and Shardul managed to scalp two wickets each, but the match had slipped out by then as England went 1-0 ahead in the series.

Top prospects who can replace Jasprit Bumrah in the second India vs England Test

Now, as the guests gear up for the second India vs England Test, they need to deal with the absence of their only in-form bowler. Jasprit Bumrah didn’t join India’s practice session at Edgbaston on the first day, fueling the chances of the second fixture being one of the two matches the pacer won’t play. However, Bumrah bowled with full intensity in the next practice session. While an official confirmation is awaited, chances are high for the Edgbaston Test to stand devoid of Bumrah’s brilliance.

India has never won a Test in Birmingham. While the group, now led by Shubman Gill, would hope to overturn the curse, the team looks severely hampered without Bumrah. Meanwhile, the visitors have the likes of Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav on the bench as specialist bowlers. Arshdeep Singh is yet to make his Test debut. Akash Deep has not played in England so far. Kuldeep Yadav has played one match in England, at Lord’s, but is yet to open his wickets account in the country.

Akash Deep

Akash Deep marked his Test debut against England earlier last year in Ranchi. The pacer scripted a dream debut, scalping three wickets to dismantle the English lineup. Extracting significant movement off the surface, Akash Deep sent back the pair of English openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, before claiming Ollie Pope for a two-ball duck. Since then, the pacer has played 7 Tests for India, but his exploits after the impressive debut have been modest. In 7 Tests, Akash Deep has managed 15 wickets at an average of 32.5. The case for Akash Deep’s selection in the Playing XI for the second India vs England Test would depend on whether the team values his ability to extract movement, even when the cherry grows old, higher in the pecking order.

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh is likely to get his maiden red-ball cap for the Edgbaston Test. While the speedster is fairly inexperienced in the format, Arshdeep brings much-needed variation to India’s bowling attack. Moreover, the left-arm pacer sharpened his skills with a county stint at Kent last season. The pacer scalped 13 wickets in 5 county matches, but his average in England remained above 40. However, Arshdeep is a known threat with the new ball, an edge India desperately needs in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Moreover, the left-hander would emerge as a prospect for the captain, Shubman Gill, to turn to when others in the lineup struggle to break the opponents’ rhythm.

Kuldeep Yadav

The left-arm wrist-spinner has many cricket pundits rallying behind him to secure a spot in India’s Playing XI against England. The sub-standard performance of Shardul Thakur led to significant scrutiny of the pace all-rounder. Meanwhile, the experts have suggested India count on spin to threaten England at Edgbaston. However, whether the visitors are confident enough to play two spinners at Edgbaston, where they are yet to win their first Test, will decide Kuldeep’s chances of selection.