Bumrah's Fiery Net Session Keeps India Guessing; Kuldeep Fine-Tunes Skills for Edgbaston Test

Birmingham: Jasprit Bumrah arrived at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground nets with a clear purpose. The Indian pace spearhead immediately geared up, going through his familiar shoulder rotation before taking his mark at the center net.

After a few gentle warm-up deliveries, Bumrah escalated into an intense spell of fast bowling. After determining a suitable run-up, he launched into a 20-minute burst at full speed. With several key batsmen like Shubman Gill and KL Rahul absent, Bumrah focused his attention on Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Karun Nair.

Bumrah's skill and accuracy were on full display, testing the batters with varied angles, switching between bowling around the wicket to left-handers and utilizing the crease's width for right-handers. His fresh mental state was evident, a clear benefit from the three-day break. He bowled alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

The trio, all participants in the Headingley Test, spent their second day in Birmingham training purposefully, following a lighter first practice. Each bowler dedicated around thirty minutes to bowling before practicing their batting.

Siraj collaborated with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on leaves, ducks, and forward defence, while Bumrah diversified his practice. From side-arm deliveries to slow bowling and throwdowns, he maintained unwavering focus. He also engaged in shadow practice and displayed increasing confidence at the crease.

In other nets, Ravindra Jadeja continued his batting practice, while Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep sought to impress. Kuldeep Yadav focused on both his batting and bowling.

Whether Akash or Arshdeep plays could hinge on Bumrah's fitness, but Kuldeep is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation.

The chinaman bowler actively seeks feedback and experiments with new angles and lengths. The dry conditions in Birmingham could prompt the Indian team management to consider him for the second Test. He is in peak physical condition, and his bowling rhythm has been impressive since the pre-match sessions in Leeds. His gripping contest with Gill before the first Test has continued into the Birmingham sessions.

Kuldeep's dedication extends to his batting, with significant time spent under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. For the past year and a half, he has worked diligently to improve his batting and contribute meaningfully to the team.

After two days of intense practice, the team will take a break before regrouping on June 30. The bowlers can rest, and bowling coach Morne Morkel can continue his playful wrestling with Arshdeep and Akash Deep at the team hotel. As for Bumrah's situation, the suspense remains for the next 48 hours.