Fri May 23 14:54:38 UTC 2025: **India’s Bowling Attack Dealt Blows Ahead of England Test Series**

**New Delhi, [Date – based on “Saturday, May 24” mentioned, it would be around May 23, 2024]** – India’s hopes for a strong showing in the upcoming five-match Test series against England have been dealt a significant blow with reports indicating star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests. Citing concerns about the physical toll, Bumrah has reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he can only handle a maximum of three matches.

This news is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding Mohammed Shami’s fitness. Sources indicate Shami, while fit enough to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has not built up the workload required for Test cricket. A BCCI medical staff member reportedly assessed Shami’s fitness this week. His last Test appearance was in the 2023 World Test Championship final. Selectors are likely to err on the side of caution and may drop Shami from the squad unless the medical report is favorable. Shami is recovering from a year long ankle injury.

Bumrah played all five Tests in the recent series against Australia, suffering a back injury in the last game. The BCCI is expected to announce the squad for the England tour on Saturday. The series begins on June 20th. While mainstays from the Australia tour are expected to retain their spots, with some new faces also likely to be included, the potential absence of both Bumrah and Shami raises concerns about the strength of India’s bowling attack for the challenging series ahead.

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