"You need Kohli when the conditions are difficult" - Aakash Chopra on the 3 Tests Jasprit Bumrah should play in ENG vs IND 2025 series

Former India player Aakash Chopra has wondered whether the Indian team should field Jasprit Bumrah in their playing XI in difficult bowling conditions in the upcoming Test tour of England. He pointed out that a modern great like Virat Kohli is also more required in difficult batting conditions than on flat surfaces.

India will square off against England in a five-match Test series, with the first game starting in Leeds on June 20. Although Bumrah has been picked in the 18-member Indian squad, he is unlikely to play all five Tests, with head coach Gautam Gambhir mentioning in the pre-departure press conference that they haven't yet decided which three games the unconventional seamer will play.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Chopra was asked about the three Tests Bumrah should play on the England tour.

"Ideally Headingley, Old Trafford and Lord's because those are the three conditions that suit fast bowlers. However, let me play the devil's advocate. He will play the first Test in Headingley, that's simple. There is help there too, and all of that, but won't I be very tempted to have Bumrah in difficult conditions?" he responded.

"You don't need Kohli as a batter on flat pitches. The others would also do it on flat pitches. You need Kohli when the conditions are difficult. In conditions that suit fast bowlers, Bumrah is very good. However, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj might also be good there," the former India opener added.

Jasprit Bumrah suffered a back injury during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in January this year. He returned to competitive cricket in IPL 2025, but might not be fit enough to play five consecutive Tests.

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"I think it is going to be very tricky" - Aakash Chopra on choosing the Tests Jasprit Bumrah should play in ENG vs IND 2025 series

Jasprit Bumrah has played nine Tests in England. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra opined that choosing the three Tests Jasprit Bumrah should potentially play will be a tricky call.

"The problem will be in Birmingham, where you will have to do the job even with the old ball, and the Oval, where the pitch will be extremely flat. So I think it is going to be very tricky. You need Bumrah when the conditions are difficult for fast bowling to win the game there. You are picking and choosing now. If he was going to play all five Tests, then you were okay," he said.

While acknowledging that workload management might have the final say, the cricketer-turned-commentator reiterated that India might be better off using their most potent weapon in difficult bowling conditions.

"In the end, the focus will be on how the body holds and how much workload he feels is right for him. However, I will be very tempted to bring in our most valuable player in difficult conditions because everyone will fail there, and whatever this guy does will be better than what everyone else does," Chppra observed.

Jasprit Bumrah has picked up 205 wickets at an outstanding average of 19.40 in 45 Tests. He has accounted for 37 wickets at a slightly higher average of 26.27 in nine Tests on English soil.