Bumrah's Birmingham Net Session: Pace and Mystery, Yadav Shines with Bat and Ball

From the moment Jasprit Bumrah entered the Edgbaston Cricket Ground nets, his focus was unmistakable. After a brief walk, he grabbed a ball, performed his signature shoulder click, and positioned himself at his mark in the center net.

Jasprit Bumrah fine-tuning his bowling ahead of the crucial Test match.

He initiated his session with a few gentle deliveries, gradually increasing his pace as he warmed up for an intense spell of fast bowling. Once he felt loose, the measuring tape came out to mark his run-up for a full-tilt, 20-minute burst. With Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant taking a break from Saturday's net session, Bumrah bowled to batsmen such as Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Karun Nair.

He challenged the batters with ease, testing their technique with accuracy and keeping them alert with varied angles – bowling around the wicket for left-handers and utilizing the width of the crease for right-handers. Beyond his skills, his mental freshness was evident, and the three-day break from bowling clearly benefited the 31-year-old, who bowled alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

The trio, who played in the Headingley Test, didn't bowl during the team's first practice in Birmingham on Friday but trained purposefully on the second day. Each bowler spent about thirty minutes bowling and later practiced batting in the nets.

Siraj focused on leaving, ducking, and forward defense with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, while Bumrah rotated between nets to experience various bowling styles. From side-armers to slow bowlers and throwdowns, Bumrah maintained intense focus throughout his extended session. He also engaged in shadow practice while awaiting his turn to bat. After a shaky start in the farthest net, the right-hander's confidence grew as he played more deliveries, appearing assured by the end of the long day.

Business continued as usual in the other nets, with Ravindra Jadeja continuing to bat, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep impressing, and Kuldeep Yadav refining both his batting and bowling. While Akash or Arshdeep's selection hinges on Bumrah's availability, Kuldeep is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation.

The left-arm wrist-spinner bowled, batted, and sought feedback from support staff and teammates. He is open to experimenting with new angles and varying lengths, and Birmingham's dry weather could prompt the Indian team management to consider him for the second Test next week. Physically, he appears to be in top form, and his bowling rhythm has been evident since the pre-match sessions in Leeds before the series opener. He had a compelling contest with Gill before the first Test and continues to enjoy his battles with Indian batters in Birmingham.

Kuldeep Yadav honing his skills at Edgbaston.

He is also dedicating significant time to improving his batting under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. For the past 18 months, Kuldeep has been diligently working on his batting, aiming to make meaningful contributions to the team with the bat.

After two days of training under the sun, the team will now take a break and regroup on June 30. The bowlers can rest and relax, while bowling coach Morne Morkel can resume his playful wrestling sessions with Arshdeep and Akash Deep in the team hotel. As for Bumrah, the suspense surrounding his participation will continue for at least the next 48 hours.