England skipper Ben Stokes acknowledges Jasprit Bumrah’s prowess as India enters a new Test era under Shubman Gill, with a high-stakes five-match series beginning at Headingley.
England Test captain Ben Stokes has sounded a clear warning about the threat posed by Indian pace ace Jasprit Bumrah, ahead of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. Speaking just before the highly anticipated five-match series kicks off on June 20, Stokes praised Bumrah’s world-class abilities while emphasizing England’s strategy to respect, but not obsess over, individual talents. As India steps into a new Test chapter without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the spotlight is firmly on Bumrah and newly appointed skipper Shubman Gill.
Ben Stokes on Bumrah: “We Know He Is a Threat”
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Stokes did not mince words about the impact Bumrah can have on the series, noting the pacer’s global credentials.
“Bumrah leading their attack is a fantastic bowler… his record shows that wherever he goes, he does well,” Stokes said. “So we know Bumrah is going to be a threat… but every other Indian bowler is also going to be a threat.”
Despite the praise, Stokes insisted England wouldn’t focus on any single individual, instead preparing to take on a formidable Indian unit as a whole.
Bumrah’s Role to Be Monitored Carefully
India’s ace pacer will not feature in every match of the five-Test series due to workload management, stemming from a previous back injury. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah would not play consecutive Tests. The caution follows his absence from India’s Champions Trophy win and his recent return with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has also hinted that the management is yet to decide which matches will feature Bumrah in the playing XI.
New Era for India: Shubman Gill Leads Without Rohit and Virat
This series marks the beginning of a fresh chapter in Indian Test cricket, as Shubman Gill takes over captaincy in the absence of long-standing icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The young leader’s mettle will be tested immediately in challenging English conditions.
Gill will lead a side that includes a mix of seasoned performers like Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and Rishabh Pant, along with promising new talents such as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sai Sudarshan.
Test Venues and India’s Full Squad
The India-England Test series will span five historic venues:
- Headingley (Leeds)
- Edgbaston (Birmingham)
- Lord’s (London)
- Old Trafford (Manchester)
- The Oval (London)
India’s Squad:
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
England XI for Opening Test
England retained much of their squad from their previous outing against Zimbabwe. Their lineup for the Leeds Test includes:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
What Lies Ahead
With both teams entering the series with revamped lineups and evolving strategies, the India-England Test rivalry is set to scale new heights. Bumrah’s form, Gill’s leadership, and Stokes’ aggressive style will be pivotal as the battle for the World Test Championship intensifies.