Ben Duckett isn’t afraid of facing Jasprit Bumrah anymore

England batter Ben Duckett confidently claimed that would not remain surprised anymore, while facing Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah.

Ben Duckett isn’t afraid of facing Jasprit Bumrah anymore

England opener Ben Duckett expressed confidence of facing Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

England opener Ben Duckett has surprisingly claimed that he is not afraid to face world number one Test bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. The 30-year-old batter also stated that nothing from the fiery Indian pacer, who has been brilliant over the past few years, would surprise him.

India and England will face each other for the second time in a year. The Indian cricket team is scheduled to tour England from 20 June 2025, to play a five-match Test series against the Three Lions. The series would mark the beginning of the Men in Blue’s participation in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, a competition they have failed to win.

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The two teams last faced each other in a white-ball series earlier this year. India won both the ODI and the T20I series, 3-0 and 4-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the two teams played each other early in India last year, when the home side triumphed 4-1 in a five-match Test series. India has toured England 19 times till date, but have only managed to claim three series wins over them.

India hasn’t won a Test match series against England in England since 2007. Virat Kohli did guide the Indian team to gain a strong 2-1 lead in a five-match Test series in England, back in 2021. However, the final match was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Indian team. When the final test was played in Birmingham a year later, England impressively won by seven wickets, resulting in a 2-2 series tie.

English opener Ben Duckett, who was the Three Lions’ second-highest run-scorer (1149 runs) in Tests last year, recently spoke about the team’s upcoming Test series against India. He responded to questions surrounding Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah, who has troubled batters with his abilities in the longest format. Duckett confidently claimed that Bumrah’s pace would no longer be able to surprise him.

The 30-year-old batter also stated that he knows how to face Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, despite having struggled initially. Duckett has been one of England’s most consistent performers, but averages just 27.76 against India. While noting the challenges, Duckett added that should the England side manage to get through the opening spell of the two bowlers, they can put up a good total on the board.

Iโ€™ve faced him in a five-Test series before. I know what heโ€™s going to do to me, and the good thing about that is I know what skills he has… Thereโ€™s going to be nothing that surprises me.

Ben Duckett on facing Jasprit Bumrah (via Daily Mail)

Meanwhile, Bumrah is currently recovering from a back injury, that he suffered during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The 31-year-old bowler is in a race against time, to regain fitness ahead of the 2025 IPL season. Moreover, his presence would be important for Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir to turn around the team’s red-ball form, following two back-to-back series defeats.

Jasprit Bumrah back at NCA Bengaluru, as IPL 2025 participation remains in doubt

Indian speedster and one of the world’s best pacers Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the upcoming edition of the IPL remains in doubt. The 31-year-old has returned to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, for further assessment of his injury.

Jasprit Bumrah injury NCA
Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the NCA for fitness tests, ahead of the upcoming IPL season. (via News 18)

Bumrah is recovering from a back injury that he suffered during the fourth match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in Sydney, Australia. The injury saw him miss India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign, as he underwent rehabilitation at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Bumrah is yet to be cleared by the NCA, and has returned for fitness tests, ahead of the IPL with Mumbai Indians.

Despite positive signs, the 31-year-old is unlikely to make it in time for the initial stage of the IPL. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene expressed a cautious optimism about his recovery. However, former New Zealand international Shane Bond recently warned against overplaying the Indian pacer. Bond claimed that another injury could possibly end Bumrah’s career.