Jasprit Bumrah Return: Bumrah ready for red ball cricket, keeping an eye on England ODI and Sri Lanka Test series

Read Lucknow Desk: Indian cricket team’s star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has intensified his preparations for red-ball cricket. He has started practicing with the red ball and has shared pictures of it on social media indicating that his entire focus is now on the upcoming Test cricket. Bumrah’s preparation before the ODI series against England and the subsequent Test series in Sri Lanka is being considered a positive sign for the Indian team.

England will return from ODI series

As part of workload management, Bumrah was rested from the T20 International series against Ireland and England. However, he has been included in the Indian team for the three-match ODI series against England starting from July 14. Apart from this, he is also a part of the Indian team for the Asian Games starting from September 19.

Hero of India’s victory in T20 World Cup

Bumrah did not take part in the only Test played against Afghanistan at home, as that match was not a part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). He performed brilliantly in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup and played an important role in India’s title win.

Throughout the tournament, Bumrah took 14 wickets in eight innings and was among the joint-highest wicket takers. During this period his bowling average was 12.42 and economy rate was 6.21. In the final match against New Zealand, he was chosen Player of the Match for taking four wickets for 15 runs.

India will play two tests in Sri Lanka

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also announced the schedule of the Sri Lanka tour. India will play a two-Test series from 15 to 27 August. The first Test will be played at the Galle International Stadium from August 15 while the second Test will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo from August 23. Both the matches will start at 10 am Indian time.

This series is considered very important for India’s ICC World Test Championship campaign.

Upcoming series will be important in WTC

After the Sri Lanka tour, the Indian team will tour New Zealand in November, where two Tests will be played in Wellington and Christchurch. This will then conclude India’s WTC 2025-27 cycle with the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home between January and March 2026.

So far in the current World Test Championship cycle, India have leveled the Test series against England 2-2, defeated West Indies 2-0 at home, while losing the series to South Africa 0-2. In such a situation, the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be very important from the points table point of view.

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