India will look to give stiff competition to hosts England in the upcoming five-match Test series. The opening Test will be played in Leeds’ Headingley Carnegie, which is known for assisting pacers. However, there are also reports that the current conditions at the ground are favourable to spinners as well. Hosts England will rely on ‘Bazball’ playing style against India and noting that Shubman Gill’s side will have to go ahead with a formidable bowling unit that could pick up 20 wickets in the game and extract victory in the contest.
The home side have notable names such as Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley, and Ben Stokes, who have solidified England’s ‘Bazball’ brand of cricket. Noting this fact, Team India will want their bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to be at his best and lead the bowling attack confidently. In India’s previous Test assignment Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, he didn’t get much assistance from other bowlers. With the first Test only three days away, SportsTiger has come up with India’s probable bowling attack against England for the opening contest in Leeds.
Here is India’s Probable bowling attack for the first Test against England:
1. Jasprit Bumrah
As discussed Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead India’s pace attack. The speedster was in brilliant touch with the ball against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, bagging 32 wickets in nine innings of five Tests. His responsibility will be to continue his excellent form with the ball in England. Talking about his bowling numbers in England, he has taken 37 wickets in 17 innings of nine Tests.
2. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj displayed his bowling brilliance in 2021-22, when Team India levelled the series by 2-2 against England. During that campaign, he grabbed 18 wickets in nine innings of five games. In the second Test played at the iconic Lord’s, he chipped in with eight wickets in India’s 151-run win. He will look to replicate his previous English tour’s performance.
3. Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur’s experience will be crucial for the two-time World Test Championship (WTC) runners-up. In his seven-year Test career, he has played 11 games in which nine are away ones. Talking about his numbers in away conditions, he has grabbed 29 wickets in 16 innings.
4. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja possesses the experience of playing most number of Tests in English conditions. The 36-year-old has appeared in 12 red-ball games in England, in which he has picked up 27 wickets in 21 innings. His experience will be vital for Team India’s bowling attack to be impactful.
5. Kuldeep Yadav
As experts are assessing Leeds’ wicket to be helpful for turners, India might induct Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. His role will be to support Jadeja to reinforce the side’s spin-bowling unit. After Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, he will look to showcase his mettle against England and cement his spot in India’s Test side as well.
6. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna is another speedster who might be seen providing support to Bumrah and Siraj to bolster India’s bowling unit in the first Test. If he gets the opportunity, he will strive to prove himself and grab it with both hands.
