Jasprit Bumrah’s workload will have to be managed. That’s why Ravichandran Ashwin believes that the unorthodox pacer won’t play the home India vs South Africa Test series.
Bumrah has been playing non-stop cricket for the last month. He did miss two matches in the Asia Cup, but with basically no turnaround, he played the India vs West Indies 1st Test on October 2.
Once the Windies challenge ends, Bumrah will board the plane for the India vs Australia T20I series, which begins on October 29. That tour will end on November 8, and just six days later, the India vs South Africa 1st Test will be played in Kolkata.
No Bumrah for IND vs SA Tests?
Ashwin thinks that India might play just one fast bowler against South Africa. And thinks that it won’t be Bumrah. With so many all-rounders available, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, he thinks that India will opt for batting depth over more bowling.
“India is spoilt for choices. There are a lot of all-rounders. If you play Washi, Axar, and Jadeja, you will play Kuldeep as well. Batting will go up to number 10. I think Bumrah will get a rest against South Africa,” Ashwin said on Ash ki Baat.
One can’t forget that Washington, Axar, and Ravindra are proper bowlers in India. Then we can add Kuldeep Yadav as well, who can hold the bat as well. If Bumrah won’t play, Mohammed Siraj could be the only pacer. In case Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill want to play two fast bowlers, one of Prasidh Krishna or Akash Deep might play with Siraj.
Jasprit Bumrah workload in last 30 days
| Date | Match | Format | Performance | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2-4 | India vs West Indies | Test | 3/42 & 0/16 | Ahmedabad |
| September 28 | India vs Pakistan | T20I | 2/25 | Dubai (DICS) |
| September 24 | India vs Bangladesh | T20I | 2/18 | Dubai (DICS) |
| September 21 | India vs Pakistan | T20I | 0/45 | Dubai (DICS) |
| September 14 | India vs Pakistan | T20I | 2/28 | Dubai (DICS) |
| September 10 | India vs UAE | T20I | 1/19 | Dubai (DICS) |
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