Why India couldn’t afford to leave Bumrah out of the first Bangladesh Test

Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion in India's squad for the first Test against Bangladesh has flown under the radar, overshadowed by Rishabh Pant's much-anticipated return to whites.

Yet, Bumrah's return is equally significant, particularly since it seemed certain he would miss the opening matches of India's new home season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a swift announcement on 18 august, revealing a 16-member squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, mere hours after the conclusion of the Duleep Trophy first-round matches.

Despite the buzz around Pant, who is returning after his horrific car accident two years ago, Bumrah's surprise inclusion has raised eyebrows, as many expected him to skip these initial Tests.

It was widely believed Bumrah would rest for the Bangladesh series, especially given his history of stress fractures. The assumption was he'd return to action for the three Tests against New Zealand later in the year, using them as a warm-up for the much-anticipated five-match series against Australia. In fact, just last month on 15 august, a BCCI source stated, "It will be up to Bumrah to decide if he wants to play the Tests against Bangladesh. The team management is clear that India needs a 120% fit Bumrah for the series against Australia."

So, what changed within those 25 days? India's defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's historic 2-0 Test victory over Pakistan may have played pivotal roles. These outcomes seemed to trigger a rethink within the BCCI, particularly about the composition of India's pace attack. Ajit Agarkar and the selection panel had considered fielding a younger bowling unit, potentially including Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed. However, that plan was scrapped. Instead, Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were selected alongside Akash Deep and Yash Dayal, forming a potent four-man pace attack.

The reason for this shift? India's bowling lacked the necessary punch during the Sri Lanka series. Siraj and Arshdeep struggled to capitalise when the opposition was under pressure, and the absence of a fifth bowling option, with Hardik Pandya unavailable, left the team short-handed. With the series now back on Indian soil, particularly at Chepauk in Chennai—where Bangladesh's spinners could cause problems—the selectors weren't willing to risk playing without their star bowler.

Bangladesh's recent form in the Pakistan series has only heightened the need for caution. Mehidy Hasan, with ten wickets, and Shakib Al Hasan represent significant threats to India's batting line-up. With that in mind, Bumrah's inclusion became a necessity rather than a luxury.

Back in December 2022, Bangladesh came perilously close to securing their first-ever Test victory over India, only for Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer to steer India home. Iyer is missing from the current squad, while both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who return after missing the majority of the England series, are bound to be rusty. Although the return of Ashwin and the presence of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel bolsters the spin department, India's fast-bowling options were limited, leaving little room for experimentation.

Last week, pictures of Bumrah in the nets began circulating, signalling his imminent return. He hasn't played since the T20 World Cup final and skipped both the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tours, so there's a question about how sharp he will be. However, given Bumrah's track record, doubts about his form tend to evaporate quickly.

Not long ago, it was considered wise to rest Bumrah during home series to preserve his fitness for overseas tours. Yet, that notion appears outdated now. Earlier this year, Bumrah was instrumental in India's success during the series against England, picking up 19 wickets across four Tests, including a standout 6/45 performance. With 10 crucial Tests ahead in the World Test Championship cycle, it's clear why Bumrah's involvement is essential, both at home and abroad.

While Mohammed Shami was expected to play a major role in the Bangladesh series, his recovery has taken longer than anticipated, leaving India's selectors with no choice but to turn to their ace bowler once again. Bumrah answered the call.