Azharuddin Calls for India to Sharpen Bowling Attack, Reduce Reliance on Bumrah in England Test

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin has advised the Indian team management to avoid becoming overly dependent on their premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. He also suggested including left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test against England at Edgbaston.

Jasprit Bumrah

Azharuddin's comments come after India's five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley. Despite centuries from Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the team experienced batting collapses and relied heavily on Bumrah for wickets and controlling the run rate.

"They are too much dependent on Bumrah. It’s not easy because you need more experienced bowlers, and they should play Kuldeep Yadav," Azharuddin told PTI Videos. He believes that including a wrist spinner like Yadav would provide greater control and variety to the bowling attack.

India is set to face England in the second Test, which begins on July 2 in Birmingham. Azharuddin emphasized that selecting the appropriate bowling combination will be crucial for India to recover from their loss at Leeds, especially with the expectation of spin-friendly conditions as the match progresses.

"We lost because of the batting collapse, but now they have to pick the right players. Bowling has to be perfect," he stated.

Azharuddin also defended Shubman Gill, who is captaining India for the first time in a five-match series. "This is just his first match as captain. You can’t talk about captaincy so early. He should be given a fair chance, support, and time," Azharuddin remarked.

The former captain, who led India in 47 Tests, emphasized the importance of patience. "We cannot just complain and criticise players like that," he added.