The India quick bowled for close to an hour during Tuesday’s optional practice session
Nagraj Gollapudi08-Jul-2025
Jasprit Bumrah had a lively training session at Lord’s on Tuesday•PA Photos/Getty Images
Old ball or new ball was the question from India bowling coach Morne Morkel. “I’ll definitely take the new ball,” Jasprit Bumrah said as he searched for the right one out of the Dukes box. A few minutes later Bumrah was appealing animatedly on bent knees, raising both hands, having induced what looked like an outside edge from Karun Nair with a delivery that seamed away viciously from good length.Bumrah last bowled on June 24, the final afternoon of the first Test at Headingley. He bowled 43.4 overs in that Test, picking up a five-for in the first innings and going wicketless in the second. Having been advised to play only three out of the five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to his back issues, Bumrah opted out of the second Test in Birmingham. That decision received heavy flak as critics feared India could go down 2-0 with England taking advantage of an inexperienced bowling attack.With those fears not coming true and India drawing level with a dominant victory, Shubman Gill’s team arrived for their first training session at Lord’s on Tuesday wearing a relaxed look. None more so than Bumrah, who has been chirpy and playful right from the first day of the tour. After observing Nitish Kumar Reddy delivering an outswinger at good pace, Bumrah quipped “good one, Brett Lee.” At one point Shardul Thakur would bow towards Bumrah’s feet as if he was paying obeisance as the pair shared a light moment.
Bumrah's ready to return at Lord's pic.twitter.com/ZEoT5jiRhw
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 8, 2025