Jasprit Bumrah immediately commanded attention upon entering the Edgbaston Cricket Ground nets area. His familiar shoulder motion marked the start of what promised to be an impactful session.
Following a brief warm-up, Bumrah geared up for an intense spell of fast bowling. Adjusting his run-up, he launched into a 20-minute burst, bowling to batsmen like Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Karun Nair, with Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant taking a break.
Bumrah challenged the batsmen with accuracy and varied angles, using the width of the crease effectively. He appeared refreshed, benefiting from a three-day break before bowling alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
The trio, who participated in the Headingley Test, focused on purposeful training during the second day in Birmingham after skipping bowling on Friday. Each bowler spent around thirty minutes bowling and later practiced batting in the nets.
Siraj worked on defensive techniques with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, while Bumrah explored various bowling styles, including side-armers and slow deliveries. He showed dedication throughout the session, complemented by shadow practice and growing confidence at the crease.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja continued batting, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep impressed, and Kuldeep Yadav diligently worked on both his batting and bowling. While Akash or Arshdeep's selection depends on Bumrah's availability, Kuldeep is committed to thorough preparation.
Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner, actively sought feedback from the support staff and teammates. He experimented with new angles and lengths, potentially making him a valuable asset given the dry conditions in Birmingham for the upcoming second Test.
For the past 18 months, Kuldeep has been dedicated to improving his batting under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, aiming to make significant contributions with the bat.
After two days of practice, the team will take a break and reconvene on June 30. The bowlers will rest, while bowling coach Morne Morkel may engage in light-hearted activities with Arshdeep and Akash Deep. The anticipation surrounding Bumrah's situation will persist for at least the next 48 hours.
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