"Siraj and Bumrah, let's park those names there" - Former wicketkeeper picks his Indian seam-bowling lineup for IND vs ENG 2025 T20Is

Former wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta has picked India's potential seam-bowling lineup for their upcoming T20I series against England. He didn't consider Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, highlighting that the duo should be given a break.

India will take on England in a five-match T20I series, with the first match to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. The two sides will subsequently lock horns in three ODIs from February 6 onwards.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues,' Dasgupta was asked about India's potential seam-bowling combination for the T20Is against England, with Bumrah likely being rested.

"Let him rest. Don't even think about it till the Champions Trophy. Maybe the last ODI if he is ready for it. Obviously, we are not sure about the extent of that back spasm, as we were told. So we need to figure that out," he replied.

"Keeping that in mind, let's park Jasprit Bumrah for the time being, and with Siraj as well. I think he has bowled 150-plus overs this series (BGT 2024-25). He needs a well-deserved rest as well. So Siraj and Bumrah, let's park those names there," Dasgupta added.

Bumrah couldn't bowl in the second half of Australia's first innings and their entire second innings in the final Test of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 due to back spasms.

Siraj bowled 157.1 overs, the most by an Indian bowler, in the five-match series and seemed slightly tired in Australia's second innings of the series decider in Sydney.

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"You need bowlers who are more versatile as compared to specialists" - Deep Dasgupta on choosing his Indian seamers for England T20Is

Arshdeep Singh will likely be a certainty in India's bowling lineup. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Deep Dasgupta noted that he would prefer to pick seamers who are good both at the start and the end of the innings.

"The important bit is that if you are looking at playing just two out-and-out seamers, you rather have seamers who can do both ends of the job, which is with the new ball and at the death. So you need bowlers who are more versatile as compared to specialists," he said.

While observing that Arshdeep Singh is a virtual sure-shot pick, the cricketer-turned-commentator named Yash Dayal and Khaleel Ahmed as two other left-arm seamers who could be in contention.

"Arshdeep is someone who can bowl with the new ball and bowl at the death as well. So Arshdeep straightaway comes to mind. Someone like Yash Dayal, if you want to go with two left-armers. Khaleel is an option. There are a few names going around," Dasgupta observed.

Dasgupta opined that Mohammed Shami could be a good option as a right-arm seamer.

"There is another name which has been around for a while. That is Mohammed Shami, whether you want to look at him as an option because he has been playing domestic cricket. He has played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare. You know he is ready to bowl four overs or 10 overs. Would you want to keep him in the loop with the Champions Trophy coming up? Might not be a bad option," he reasoned.

Shami has picked up 24 wickets at an economy rate of 8.94 in 23 T20Is. The veteran India seamer accounted for 11 dismissals at an economy rate of 7.85 in nine games for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25.