India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with teammates after the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Marsh during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)India coach Gautam Gambhir remained tight-lipped on which three of the five Tests Jasprit Bumrah will take part in when India take on England later this month. He also said that the Indian bowling unit has enough talent to plug in the gap in case of the premier pacer’s unavailability.
“We have not taken that call that which three games we want (him) to play,” Gambhir said, though it is not certain if Bumrah would play only three Tests.
“Look it’s always difficult to replace someone like Jasprit Bumrah but we have got enough quality. “I have said it before (also) during the Champions Trophy as well that it gives someone else the opportunity to put his hand up and we have got enough talent. I know that he is a quality (bowler) but we have got enough quality in the squad,” Gambhir told the media during his pre-departure press conference with new Test captain Shubman Gill.
The India coach also hinted that Bumrah’s appearances will depend on how India are positioned in the series.
“Obviously we want to have a discussion with him and it depends on the series as well. A lot will depend on the results of the series as well (as to) where it is heading. That is something which I am very well aware of as well and that is important,” he said.
Captain Gill, meanwhile, echoed the coach’s words saying that the pace attack is quite capable of filling
Gill also spoke in the same vein and said the Indian pace attack can not only fill in for Bumrah but also win Test matches from any situation.
“We have picked enough bowlers and we have enough pace battery and our fast bowlers are in a great space to be able to win us Test matches from any situation and any position,” he said.
“When you have Jasprit Bumrah… depending on how many matches you would play him, but whenever he would come back and play it would be a great sight for us, but I think we have a great mix and set of bowlers who can get the job done for the team,” he added.
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