Former England cricketer David Lloyd has noted that India seems to lose more when Jasprit Bumrah is part of the playing XI. Bumrah returned to the final XI for the Lord’s Test after he was rested for the second Test at Edgbaston to manage his workload.
India suffered a heartbreaking 22-run loss against England at Lord’s despite Bumrah picking seven wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Interestingly, India lost the opening Test at Leeds, Headingley, when Bumrah returned with figures of 5-83 in the first innings.
Furthermore, India registered a massive win of 336 runs in the second Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, when Bumrah was not part of the playing XI.
Speaking on the talkSport Cricket podcast, Lloyd said, “That’s extraordinary. There was something that said when he plays they lose more than when he doesn’t play, and he is like the best bowler in the world. And he is awkward and nasty with his action, but a thoroughly decent fella. It is what they’ve said and what the coach Gautam Gambhir said that he will play three out of the five Tests. So, he’s got a choice.”
The former English batter reckons Bumrah would play the fifth Test match if India manages to win at Old Trafford.
“If he plays this next one at Old Trafford and they get a result to make it 2-2, you’d think he’d play at The Oval as well. I’m second-guessing, but I think he’ll play this next game and see where they are. If England go 3-1, he won’t play. But if it’s 2-2, he will play at the Oval,” said Lloyd (via the aforementioned source).
India’s think tank has already revealed that Bumrah will play three out of the five Test matches in the series.
“It is what they’ve said and what the coach Gautam Gambhir said that he will play three out of the five Tests. So, he’s got a choice. There are two matches to go. He’s played two. If they are true to their words, he should play this next game at Old Trafford. But then, you know, they can manoeuvre that, can’t they?”
The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.
