Shastri Advises India to Manage Bumrah’s Workload Ahead of ODI World Cup

MUMBAI: Former Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri has urged the national team to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload carefully as they prepare for the upcoming ODI World Cup. Shastri emphasized that Bumrah should primarily participate in Test matches and be utilized sparingly in limited-overs formats to ensure he remains fit and effective.

Bumrah, who recently returned to the Test squad for a two-match series in New Zealand, will not feature in the five ODIs and five T20 internationals leading up to the Tests. The 32-year-old fast bowler has faced significant injury challenges, including a back surgery earlier this year and a knee injury that sidelined him from a Test series against Sri Lanka in August. His comeback at the Asian Games, where he played a crucial role in securing a gold medal for India, has raised hopes for his performance in future tournaments.

Shastri, who led the Indian team from 2017 to 2021, stated, “I don’t think he should play all three formats till the ODI World Cup. He should play Test cricket and should play sporadically between one-day internationals and T20 cricket. I would rather preserve him for the Test matches. That’s very important.” His comments highlight the strategic importance of Bumrah in the Indian bowling lineup, especially in the longer format of the game.

As the cricketing world looks forward to the ODI World Cup, scheduled for next year, the Indian management faces critical decisions regarding player fitness and selection. The focus will be on maintaining Bumrah’s health while ensuring he contributes effectively to the team’s success in both Tests and limited-overs formats.