India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has returned to training ahead of the upcoming international Test season, sharing images on social media of him bowling with the red ball as he continues preparations for a packed calendar.
Bumrah, who was rested for the T20I series against Ireland and England, has been included in India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against England beginning July 14, and is also part of the squad announced for the Asian Games starting September 19. He had earlier opted out of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at home, which was not part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle.
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His most recent competitive appearance came during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where he endured a difficult season. Representing Mumbai Indians and Team India’s fast-bowling expectations in focus, Bumrah managed just four wickets in 13 matches, finishing with an average of 102.50 and an economy rate of 8.36. His best figures for the season were 1/15, marking what is statistically his least successful IPL campaign to date.
Despite that setback, Bumrah remains a central figure in India’s white-ball success. He played a crucial role in India’s ICC T20 World Cup triumph, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 wickets in eight innings at an average of 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21. His standout performance came in the final against New Zealand, where his spell of 4/15 earned him the Player of the Match award and helped secure India the title.
India’s Test calendar now shifts focus to a busy stretch of fixtures across formats. The two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is scheduled from August 15 to 27, with matches to be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle and the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. The opening Test begins on August 15 at Galle, while the second Test starts on August 23 in Colombo. Both matches will begin at 10:00 AM IST.
Following that, India will tour New Zealand for a two-Test series starting November 19, with matches scheduled in Wellington and Christchurch. This will be followed by the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home, a five-Test series running from January 21 to March 3, which will mark India’s final assignment in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.
India’s campaign in the current WTC cycle has been mixed so far, featuring a 2-2 draw in England, a 2-0 home series win against West Indies, and a disappointing 0-2 home whitewash against South Africa. With several key series remaining, the team’s push for a place in the WTC final is still finely poised, with Bumrah expected to play a crucial role if he maintains fitness through the demanding schedule.
