TESTING times for India ahead of Birmingham contest

So, it is not just the Jasprit Bumrah conundrum which plagues Indian cricket at the moment. On the eve of the second Test against England in the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, there are problems galore for Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir’s side. Having lost the first Test in Leeds last week, India are now staring at many more problems as they prepare for the Birmingham test.

Indian cricket is in transition, especially the Test side. Three retirements in the first five months of 2025, this was bizarre. And for those who feel or said on social media that replacements were there, no way. There is no quality off-spinner who can replace R.Ashwin, even though off-spin overseas has not really been the flavour. The way Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired, an impression was made out as if the next generation batters would storm the field.

Yes, India had five centuries in the first Test, where Rishabh Pant shone like a beacon. To hammer two tons in each innings, Pant defined aura and authority. It is his care-a-damn attitude and positive strength which saved India from further embarrassment, as India lost the first Test by five wickets. Sadly, even as Pant was the star and stellar performer, grouch Gautam Gambhir, who seems to have an agenda against Pant said there were five tons overall, later at the press conference. Pray, did the runs matter amidst the ruins that were left behind for India?

Gambhir as coach is as much under the scanner as Team India. Former India leader and coach, well-respected Ravi Shastri has said that Shubman Gill needs to be given, at least, a three-year term. Shastri may have a valid point but Indian cricket is known for being knee-jerk. If not, all those who were baying for the blood of Kohli and Rohit would have been more patient. To find batters and groom them, Indian cricket does not believe in patience.

The problems for India in the Test side are manifold. The top order may have worked but the way the lower order crumbled like a cookie in both the innings was crazy. This is where England showed good character. How India will restore balance in batting remains to be seen. For those who have hinted wholesome changes in the team are in store for the second Test, it may not be good at all. If anything, it could be more reactive than proactive.

Now comes the main problem, the availability of Jasprit Bumrah. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Bumrah had said before the first Test, he needs to be playing only three Tests out of five. It was for this reason he refused captaincy. One has to accept it, this version of Bumrah on return from a major back injury is not the same. Yes, each time he plays, India go in with a potent force, one of a tormentor, or destructor. However, the same warhorse is not ready to be flogged for an entire series. He cannot handle the load any longer of a full series with poor support from the rest.

Rewind to the BGT Series in Australia which ended in January in Sydney, Bumrah’s back broke down. He was off cricket for a long time and finally when he returned in the IPL, there were more questions than answers. Truth to tell, Bumrah today is not the same bowler who can be part of an entire long Test series. He cannot be blamed at all, for he has done more than enough for India. The problem is improper grooming of other fast bowlers.

Why should there be ambiguity on Bumrah ahead of the second Test in Birmingham. If he has to rest, so be it. For those who say he needs to play at any cost in the second Test, stop being so insensitive. What are the other fast bowlers doing, and why not include Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm bowler,  for variety.  Bumrah has done enough for India. Going forward, in Test cricket, if it’s a priority for the BCCI, groom fast bowlers like Kohli and Shastri did. Persist with them, ensure they don’t bowl short in England when they are not super quick or incapable of digging the ball short to travel to the batter’s ribcage.

As for the Indian ‘catching’ it plummeted to abysmal depths in Leeds. The way India dropped catches was shocking. Slip fielding became a tale of slips and slip-ups. Please spare the fans the blushes. Put on a fight, please, it hurts to see Indian Test cricket team not performing.  Records are there to assess each and every one, including the coach.