Kumble Urges Team India to Play Bumrah in Crucial 4th Test: “Series Will Be Over Without Him”

India Falters at Lord's, Trails 2-1 in Series

After a narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s, India now trails England 2-1 in the ongoing five-match Test series. Chasing a modest target of 193 on Day 5, India was bowled out for just 170, falling short in a tense final session. The loss has raised serious concerns about India’s prospects, especially with their record at the next venue, Manchester, being far from reassuring.

KUMBLE’S STRONG MESSAGE: “BUMRAH MUST PLAY AT ANY COST”

Following the Lord’s defeat, former India captain Anil Kumble didn’t mince words, calling on the team management to ensure Jasprit Bumrah plays the remaining two Tests.

“I would certainly push Bumrah to play the next game because that’s crucial,” Kumble said during a post-match analysis on JioStar. “If he doesn’t play and we lose the Test, the series is done and dusted. Bumrah should be playing both remaining matches. There’s a long break after the series he can rest then. But for now, he’s too important to sit out.”

BUMRAH’S WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT SPARKS DEBATE

Before the series began, the BCCI had confirmed that Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests as part of a pre-planned workload management strategy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had reiterated this, resting Bumrah for the second Test despite his stellar performance in the series opener at Leeds, where he led the bowling attack single-handedly.

India’s gamble paid off in the second Test at Birmingham, where Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep delivered with five-wicket hauls to level the series with a resounding 336-run win. However, the momentum swung back in England’s favor at Lord’s.

GILL KEEPS BUMRAH'S AVAILABILITY UNDER WRAPS

India's captain Shubman Gill remained coy about Bumrah’s return when asked after the Lord's defeat. “You'll get to know soon,” he said, refusing to reveal any plans regarding the pacer's availability for the upcoming matches.

DO-OR-DIE AT MANCHESTER – INDIA’S RECORD WORRYING

The fourth Test is scheduled to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester  a venue that hasn’t been kind to India. In nine previous matches there, India has never won. Five ended in draws, while England claimed victory in the remaining four. The last appearance in Manchester dates back to 2014, when India, under MS Dhoni, lost by an innings and 54 runs.

FINAL WORD: BUMRAH’S RETURN COULD DECIDE THE SERIES

With the series hanging in the balance and India’s track record at Manchester offering little comfort, the pressure is mounting on the team management to reconsider their decision on resting Bumrah. As Kumble rightly points out, the stakes are too high, and Bumrah’s presence could be the difference between a comeback and a collapse.