Ganguly Questions Pace Unit’s Support for Bumrah After Solo Heroics in Leeds

Jasprit Bumrah once again showcased his world-class pedigree in the ongoing first Test between India and England at Headingley, finishing with figures of 5/83 — his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. However, while Bumrah’s brilliance shone through, what stood out even more was the glaring lack of support from the rest of the Indian pace attack.

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, India’s other frontline seamers, proved expensive and ineffective, conceding over 100 runs each and managing only four wickets between them. Together, they gave away a combined 245 runs. Shardul Thakur, preferred over Nitish Kumar Reddy and Arshdeep Singh, fared no better — bowling a mere six overs for 38 runs without making any significant impact.

GANGULY'S SUBTLE CRITIQUE: “BUMRAH NEEDS SUPPORT”

Joining the growing list of former cricketers expressing concern, former India captain Sourav Ganguly weighed in on the imbalance in India’s bowling attack. While praising Bumrah’s class, Ganguly stressed the urgent need for consistent contributions from his pace partners to ensure the premier fast bowler doesn’t burn out over the course of the five-match series.

> “Such a pleasure to watch Bumrah bowl in all formats of the game. Hopefully, he will get support from the other end so that he can play all five Tests. It will keep India in the series,” Ganguly posted on X.

His message, though polite on the surface, pointed squarely at the underperformance of Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul. With India relying heavily on Bumrah’s shoulders, the lack of a collective effort is becoming a serious concern.

FIELDING FAILS ADD TO INDIA’S WOES

Adding to the bowling struggles were India’s sloppy fielding standards  six dropped catches, including a couple of tough but catchable chances. Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar also shared his disapproval, subtly hinting at the missed opportunities that allowed England to post a massive 465 in their first innings.

BHARAT ARUN SOUNDS THE ALARM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun, speaking before the series began, had already issued a cautionary note about overusing Bumrah. With Bumrah returning from a significant back injury, his workload management remains a top priority.

> “I expect him to play all Test matches, but only if he gets strong support from the other bowlers,” Arun told RevSportz.

> “If he ends up shouldering the entire load, there’s a real risk of burnout. Ideally, we want the others to step up, so that Bumrah’s role can be a bit more balanced. That will help him stay fit across the whole series.”

His comments echo Ganguly’s sentiments India’s long-term success in the series hinges not just on Bumrah’s brilliance but on a more disciplined and effective performance from the entire bowling unit.

LOOKING AHEAD: CAN INDIA FIX THE BALANCE?

With four more Tests remaining in this high-stakes series, India must address their bowling and fielding issues promptly. If the current pattern continues, and Bumrah continues to carry the burden alone, not only will India’s chances suffer, but the team risks overworking its most prized asset.

Whether Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul can respond to this quiet but pointed criticism will play a major role in shaping India’s fate in the rest of the series.