Reports: Jasprit Bumrah to be rested for Bangladesh Tests; Arshdeep, Khaleel in contention

After a prolonged white-ball cricket season, Team India will be back to red-ball cricket as they take on Bangladesh in September for a two-match Test series at home. With the Test season back, India’s goal would be to retain their position at the top of the World Test Championship 2025 table, a title that has eluded them twice in the finals over the years. Though Bangladesh are likely to field their best frontiers, India might miss the services of their major pacer general. 

According to reports, star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for the series. The move comes in the wake of an intent to fortify India’s pace battery with some latest additions. India’s previous bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey had shown less interest in fielding Arshdeep as a Test bowler, reasoning his potential to bring out the best yet. On the other hand, Bumrah was rested for the Sri Lanka tour and is a bounty for the Indian team ahead of the crucial Australia tour. 

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“In the case of Bumrah, he knows his body the best and it will be up to him if he wants to play in the Tests against Bangladesh. The team management and selectors are clear that India needs a 120 per cent fit Jasprit Bumrah for all five Tests against Australia Down Under. Before that, there is New Zealand in India, where he will probably play and get ready for the sterner tests,” a BCCI source said as quoted by News18.

Arshdeep, Khaleel's Test debut might be on cards

The inclusion of Arshdeep or Khaleel is one thing that might click for the Indian team. Former coach Rahul Dravid had shown interest in Arshdeep venturing into red-ball cricket. With the present coach Gautam Gambhir successfully bringing in his choice of personnel in Morne Morkel as bowling coach as well, Arshdeep might get a go-ahead with his left-arm pace inevitably.