There are players who can be replaced, and then there is Jasprit Bumrah, whose absence instantly weakens the Indian bowling attack by at least 50%. That’s how much the modern-day legend’s value is. He can single-handedly make a side. With the T20 World Cup 2026 less than three months away, and India set to switch almost entirely to white-ball cricket, managing Bumrah’s body will be the single most important decision Indian cricket makes.
Every time he runs in, the stakes are different. There is always the temptation to play him in every format because he makes teams win, but the line between being match-ready and being overplayed is quite thin. It is in this context that former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has issued a strong suggestion that we should save Bumrah for T20Is and meaningful Test matches only. Ashwin believes that India should not risk burning out their most precious fast bowler just months away from an ICC trophy push.
Ashwin sends a message to Bumrah
In the last two years of international cricket, only Mohammed Siraj has bowled more balls than Bumrah among pacers. While Siraj has sent down 4152 balls, Bumrah has bowled 4122. This is just five overs less but Bumrah (131 wickets) has obviously been far more successful than Siraj (88 wickets). Blessing Muzarabani (3719) and Mitchell Starc (3543) follow them but the difference is vast.
However, with the packed white-ball schedule ahead, Ashwin has suggested Bumrah not step into Test cricket as of now. While India don’t have any scheduled matches until August against Sri Lanka, Bumrah needs to be preserved.
“I have a great relationship with him. If I were anywhere near him, I would go and tell him, you know what, just play the white ball format. Unless and until we need you, do not step into the Test side. And that is what I would tell him. But I know him personally. He loves the Test format. He wants to play as long as he can. He knows it is going to be a challenge,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“But I think for Indian cricket’s sake and for Bumrah’s sake, I would love to see him play T20 cricket. I would not want him to play meaningless ODIs. I would want him to play meaningful Tests, if that makes sense. Bumrah is a treasure for India. A unique action which sets him apart, which also gives him a lot of trouble with his physical workload management. And that is how I would view Bumrah in the future,” he added.
Bumrah needs to be preserved
Bumrah has looked slightly off his best recently, finishing the Tests in South Africa and the West Indies with eight and seven wickets, respectively, and managing just three wickets in the five T20Is against Australia. With a demanding year ahead, India will avoid unnecessary overs in bilateral fixtures.
He hasn’t played an ODI since earlier this year, not due to injury, but because he is being preserved carefully. India now shift fully towards white-ball cricket, starting with a five-match T20I series against South Africa from December 9. New Zealand follow in January for ODIs and T20Is. India’s hopes next February in the T20 World Cup may depend on how tightly they guard him between now and then.
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