With all the chatter surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s availability in the 2nd Test vs England at Edgbaston on Wednesday, home skipper Ben Stokes waved away questions regarding India’s premier pace bowler, saying that’s India’s problem. Bumrah, who was India’s best bowler in the 1st Test at Leeds, is expected to play 3 Tests out of 5 in England and with one Test already done, that leaves 2 more where India will have the services of the pacer.
“That’s India’s problem. They will deal with it. I am captain of England,” Stokes said on Tuesday in the pre-match press conference.
He would, however, laud the Indian team as a passionate unit, adding that England will not take anything for granted against the visitors after winning the 1st Test at Leeds.
“Good team. They always fight hard, come hard. Very passionate team. It’s pretty clear that there’s always pressure on shoulders of international sportsmen, but playing for India, especially in cricket, there’s probably a bit more on any other nation. So, yeah, a very proud nation. Don’t take anything for granted from last week. We start at 0-0 again,” he said.
The England captain also praised Rishabh Pant who became only the second designated wicketkeeper to score two centuries in the same Test after his twin tons at Leeds.
“Even though he’s in opposition, I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket. I love the way he takes it on in all formats of the game. He’s got a bit of stickiness in his time, but that type of talent, when you let that type of talent be free, that’s what can happen in the last week,” said Stokes.
“Credit to him, two 100s in the game. We know we’re going to get our chances with the way that Rishabh plays. So, yeah, it’s one of them. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different. But, yeah, a very dangerous player,” he added.
