As the second Test at Edgbaston approaches, former England cricketer Mark Butcher has underlined the critical importance of Jasprit Bumrah’s presence in India’s playing XI. With India trailing 0-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, Butcher believes Bumrah’s inclusion could significantly tilt the balance in the visitors’ favour.
Bumrah’s workload, however, remains a talking point. Prior to the series, the ace pacer had mentioned he might only feature in three of the five Tests. Reports now suggest he could be rested for Edgbaston to be fresh for the third Test at Lord’s. But Butcher disagrees with this approach.
“Bumrah is going to be a huge talking point as to whether or not this is one of his three Test matches. I think it has to be—absolutely has to be. Six-day break after Headingley, 1-0 down, he plays,” said Mark Butcher on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast. “I know he wants to play at Lord’s, but the needs of the team and the series outweigh personal milestones.”
ALSO READ: Team India Kept Behind Closed Doors in Birmingham After Suspicious Package Scare
Butcher further added that if Bumrah gets through Edgbaston unscathed, he could still take the field at Lord’s, giving India the best chance to claw back into the series.
Beyond Bumrah, Butcher has also called for a tactical shake-up in India’s bowling unit. He advocated for the inclusion of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in place of Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur. Kuldeep, with 21 wickets in six Tests against England at an average of 22.28, offers a genuine threat. Arshdeep, though uncapped in Tests, brings variety and swing—ideal for English conditions.
“England love facing 80s pace seamers. But give them left-arm wrist spin and left-arm swing, and it changes the equation,” Mark Butcher explained. “Shardul doesn’t offer enough with the ball to justify his place, especially when his batting hasn’t compensated.”
ALSO READ: “We know what he brings to the Indian team” – Ben Stokes heaps praise on Rishabh Pant
According to Butcher, a combination of Bumrah, Siraj, Arshdeep, Kuldeep, and Jadeja could bring the right balance and edge India needs—provided they’re ready to sacrifice batting depth for bowling bite.
