An ex-England star has weighed in on India's bowling attack, suggesting they heavily rely on Jasprit Bumrah in Test matches. This observation comes amidst discussions about Bumrah's workload management and potential absence from the second Test against England.

Jasprit Bumrah's importance to the Indian bowling attack is undeniable. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has lauded Bumrah's exceptional performance, calling him a "Kohinoor diamond". Karthik emphasized Bumrah's versatility and intelligence, highlighting his ability to deliver with any ball and his knack for understanding batsmen. He even suggested a special contract for Bumrah, deeming him a "national treasure" and crucial to India's bowling attack across all formats.

Bumrah's Test debut was in 2018 against South Africa. Since then, the 31-year-old has played 46 matches and 87 innings, bagging 208 wickets at an economy rate of 2.77.

However, the reliance on Bumrah also raises concerns about the performance of the bowling attack in his absence. With the second Test against England starting on July 2nd in Birmingham, there is speculation about Bumrah's availability. He bowled a significant 44 overs in the first Test and took a five-wicket haul, but team management had earlier indicated that he would only play three of the five Tests. This has led to discussions about workload management and potential changes in the bowling unit. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has indicated that Bumrah's availability would be assessed on a game-by-game basis.

If Bumrah does not play, Mohammed Siraj is likely to lead the fast bowling attack. Siraj has shown great performance in Test cricket, with his ability to swing the ball and maintain good length. However, he needs to gain more consistency and become a consistent wicket-taking option like Bumrah. In the first Test, Siraj was unable to take wickets in the second innings, which is a matter of concern.

In Bumrah's absence, Arshdeep Singh could offer a crucial angle variation as a left-arm pacer. Prasidh Krishna, despite being expensive, picked up five wickets in the first Test and could be an option. The inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav is also under consideration, with the Birmingham pitch expected to offer turn. Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar suggested that Kuldeep could be effective, as England's batters haven't historically played wrist spin particularly well. Ravindra Jadeja offers exceptional control, handy wickets, excellent fielding, and valuable runs down the order. However, his form with the ball in the first Test was not great, and he got just 1 wicket.

The possible absence of Bumrah also highlights the need for other bowlers to step up and take responsibility. While Bumrah is undoubtedly a key player, a successful bowling attack requires contributions from multiple sources.