I’m happy his body is in good shape at the moment Morkel on Bumrah

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has praised Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery form in the nets, saying he was “blown away” by the pacer’s rhythm during training sessions ahead of the first Test against England.

Bumrah Returns Strong After Injury Layoff

Bumrah, 31, was one of India’s standout performers during the tour of Australia late last year. However, a back injury forced him to miss the final day of the Sydney Test and subsequently ruled him out of the Champions Trophy.

After a long recovery period, Bumrah returned to competitive cricket in the IPL, where he bowled just four overs per match. While his workload was limited, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Bumrah would be carefully managed and would play only three of the five Tests in England.

Despite the caution, Morkel couldn’t hide his excitement about Bumrah’s recent performances in the nets.

“Bumrah knows how to get himself ready and how to prepare,” Morkel said. “I was blown away by the energy and pace he’s shown over the past few days. It’s really exciting to see. His body is in a good place right now.”

Managing Workload Will Be Key

Morkel emphasized that the team would continue to monitor Bumrah’s fitness and manage his workload smartly.

“We’ll be careful with him because he’s a vital player for us. But watching him bowl with the Dukes ball in the nets has been very encouraging,” he added.

India’s Bowling Combination Still Under Discussion

With Bumrah’s inclusion almost certain, India still needs to decide on the rest of their bowling attack. One name in contention is Nitish Reddy, who had a breakthrough tour in Australia and impressed with a century during the Boxing Day Test.

However, Reddy was underutilized with the ball, bowling only 44 overs in five Tests. As a result, the fast-bowling workload fell heavily on Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who bowled over 150 overs each.

Morkel believes Reddy can offer more with the ball in English conditions.

“Having more bowling options is always a plus. Nitish is a skillful bowler who can deliver that one special ball. I’ve challenged him to bowl more. We all know what he can do with the bat, but if he can contribute with the ball too, he’ll add great value to the team,” Morkel said.

Getting Match Fit Is the Next Challenge

The coach also spoke about the importance of getting the team match-ready quickly, especially given the challenges of English conditions.

“You’ve got to find a way to get up to speed fast. The cold weather and heavy outfields can be tough on the body. Doing well in the nets is one thing, but getting match fit is another. We have to find our rhythm quickly,” Morkel explained.

India to Play Intra-Squad Match Before First Test

To help with preparations, India will play an intra-squad warm-up game from June 13 to 16 in Beckenham. The match will feature players from both the main Test squad and the India ‘A’ team. After that, the team will head to Leeds for the first Test, which begins on June 20.