India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has indicated that decisions regarding resting key pacers like Jasprit Bumrah will be contingent on the results of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Bumrah is a vital member of the Indian fast-bowling lineup, which has already been hampered by the absence of recovering Mohammed Shami. He has participated in three consecutive home Test matches.
Gambhir responded to worries regarding Bumrah’s workload as a demanding five-Test series in Australia loomed. “We will have roughly 10 to 12 days after this series ends before our Test series starts in Australia,” he said. That should give our fast bowlers enough time to rest. But after this test, we will closely monitor Bumrah’s condition.”
He emphasized that it’s not solely about Bumrah, remarking, “We want to ensure that all our fast bowlers remain in good condition. We recognize the significance of the upcoming tour of Australia. Workload management will depend heavily on the outcome of thisTest and the extent of bowling done during it.”
Ahead of the Pune Test, India received a boost with the fitness clearances for both Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, the latter confirmed to take up wicketkeeping duties as well.
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“Gill was unable to participate in the last match due to injury, which originated in his neck. Given his strong performance against Bangladesh, we expect him to return to the playing XI. However, the final team selection has yet to be determined. We’ll review the playing XI tomorrow morning and decide on the best combination to secure a win,” Gambhir noted.
The pitch conditions in Pune are anticipated to favor spinners, especially with the recent rainfall, while temperatures have remained high. Reflecting on India’s previous misjudgment of conditions in Bengaluru, Gambhir chose to remain pragmatic ahead of the Pune Test.
“No one can accurately predict how the pitch will behave,” he admitted. “Honestly, it’s impossible for anyone to foresee that.”
He added, “We believe the wicket will be a typical Indian surface. We have confidence in our bowlers and our batsmen to perform well. However, until the match starts, we cannot anticipate the pitch’s behavior.”
Gambhir concluded, “And until both teams have batted on this wicket, making predictions is premature.”
