Bumrah's Birmingham Nets Session: Fitness Questions Linger as Kuldeep Fine-Tunes Game for Second Test

Birmingham: From the moment Jasprit Bumrah entered the Edgbaston Cricket Ground nets, his focus was palpable. The tell-tale shoulder movement, a prelude to his fiery deliveries, signaled his intent.

After a brief warm-up, the intensity ramped up. Measurements were taken for his run-up, and a sustained 20-minute spell of full-throttle fast bowling commenced. With several key batsmen absent from Saturday's session, Bumrah tested the mettle of Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Karun Nair.

He relentlessly challenged the batsmen, showcasing pinpoint accuracy and employing diverse angles – bowling around the wicket to left-handers and maximizing the crease's width against right-handers. Beyond his technical skills, Bumrah appeared mentally rejuvenated. The three-day break seemed to have worked wonders for the 31-year-old, who bowled alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

The trio, all veterans of the Headingley Test, had a lighter first practice in Birmingham but trained purposefully on day two. Each bowler spent approximately thirty minutes honing their skills before practicing extended batting in the nets.

Siraj worked on defensive techniques with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, while Bumrah explored different facets of his game, from side-arm deliveries to slow bowling and throwdowns. He engaged in shadow practice while awaiting his turn to bat, displaying growing confidence as the day progressed.

Business continued as usual in adjacent nets. Ravindra Jadeja continued his batting practice, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep impressed with their bowling, and Kuldeep Yadav diligently worked on both his batting and bowling. While Akash or Arshdeep's inclusion hinges on Bumrah's fitness, Kuldeep is leaving no room for doubt in his preparation.

The left-arm wrist-spinner actively sought feedback from support staff and teammates. He experimented with angles and lengths, hoping the dry Birmingham weather would favor his inclusion in the second Test squad.

His physical condition appears optimal, and his bowling rhythm is evident, dating back to the pre-match sessions in Leeds. He had a compelling face-off with Gill before the first Test and continues these battles with Indian batters in Birmingham.

He is dedicating significant time to refining his batting skills under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. Over the past 18 months, Kuldeep has worked diligently to improve his batting and aims to make substantial contributions with the bat.

Following two days of intense training, the team will take a break before reconvening on June 30. The bowlers can rest and recuperate, while bowling coach Morne Morkel might continue his wrestling antics with Arshdeep and Akash Deep. The suspense surrounding Bumrah's participation, however, will linger for at least the next 48 hours.