India received a significant boost ahead of the five-Test series against England with pacer Jasprit Bumrah making a return to bowling in the nets.

The Mumbai pacer injured his thumb during India’s T20 tour of Ireland earlier this summer and has been out of action ever since. He was named in the 18-man squad for the first three Tests of the series but it was understood that Bumrah was facing a race against time to get fit for the opening at Edgbaston.

However, the fast-bowler is now on the road to recovery after he was seen bowling in the nets ahead of India’s ongoing warm-up game against Essex at Chelmsford on Wednesday.

Bumrah and Umesh Yadav could be seen bowling in the nets during the team’s training session before their three-day clash against Essex got underway on Wednesday

While there is still not telling if Bumrah will be able to get himself fit in time for the first Test which begins at Edgbaston on August 1, India will be relieved to see him get back into the nets as they struggle with injuries to key pacers.

Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar aggravated his lower back injury in the third and final ODI against England and has been ruled out of the first three Tests. Bhuvneshwar has returned to India to step up his rehabilitation.

That has left India with a pace attack comprising of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur for the first three Tests. Skipper Virat Kohli will be hoping that Bumrah can recover quickly given his performances in his debut Test series against South Africa earlier this year.

The India quick picked up 14 wickets in the three Tests against the Proteas at an average of 25.21.