|| India Correspondent ||
England players have started their Test campaign against India on a positive note where they put up 578 in the first innings, including a swashbuckling double-ton from the captain Joe Root. Every Indian bowler had to work hard to take wickets, with the pacer Jasprit Bumrah and spinner R Ashwin doing most of the bowling, where both of them claimed three wickets each.
However, Bumrah has bowled 36 overs and conceded only 84 runs on the way of his three wickets. Meanwhile, former India opener Gautam Gambhir has opined that Bumrah should not play in the second Test and he should be preserved for the pink ball Test that will begin on February 24.
"I'm not even sure whether Bumrah should be picked for the second Test match. I think India should preserve him for the pink-ball Test match. See, Jasprit Bumrah is a X-Factor in the series, irrespective of what surfaces to play on and you’ve got to keep that in mind too," said Gambhir in a recent conversation with Cricinfo.
Gautam Gambhir further added that Bumrah should not be used for long stretches and he should bowl for only three-four over spells.
"Jasprit Bumrah – you can’t just keep bowling for longer sessions. Give him that short burst of three overs to try and pick a quick wicket, but not long spells because Bumrah is going to be very important going forward in the series. And if something happens to him, India is going to be in serious trouble," concluded Gambhir.
The second Test will be played in Chennai as well and after that, the series will be shifted to Ahmedabad where the rest two Tests and T20I series will be played. The One Day International series will take place in Pune.