You can’t afford to play Jasprit Bumrah in all four Tests against England, it would be unfair on him: Gautam Gambhir

With India and Australia battling it out at the spicy Gabba wicket for one last time in a series which has been really good to watch as a cricket fan, there are cloud of concerns over Jasprit Bumrah’s injury. The young pacer has been the leader of the bowling attack in overseas conditions for some time now. Since his debut, he has shown why he is rated so highly. 

Even in this series, after injuries to Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav, who are India’s first-choice bowlers in any condition, Bumrah provided the needed balance in the bowling unit. However, even the Gujarat pacer broke down due to pressure. In Sydney, his pace was down in the second innings, which we later found had happened because of an abdominal strain. 

Gambhir suggests resting Jasprit Bumrah for some matches against England

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, during an interaction, said that he feels the young bowler can skip some matches of the Test series which will happen in India against England in February. Gambhir expressed his concerns over the bowler’s workload management. 

“I still feel if you are playing four Test matches at home, you don’t need to play Jasprit Bumrah in all four matches. Because here your spinners will also get help, and Mohammed Shami would have come back hopefully and Ishant Sharma will be fit,” the two-time World Cup winner said on the Star Sports show Cricket Connected. 

Bumrah has been playing consistently since IPL 2020 and has been in a bio bubble for five months now. The former opener feels it important for the pacer to take some matches off to be fit for some significant roles ahead.

It is very much required to look after Jasprit Bumrah: Gambhir

“You can also give him a break in T20 cricket and a little bit of break in ODI cricket as well. No player wants to take a break, but a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, whose action is a little different, I am sure only experts can tell where he has the maximum load, whether in the back or somewhere else.” Gambhir added. 

He also pointed out that the bowler will be invaluable to India’s cause when they tour England in August 2021 and the T20 World Cup which will be played in India after that. 

“It is very much required to look after him, as the England tour of 5 Test matches is going to be very important and after that the T20 World Cup. So, you will need a fit Jasprit Bumrah,” he added.