Bumrah has played both Tests against Bangladesh and first two Tests versus New Zealand.
Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to feature in the upcoming third Test between India and New Zealand to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match is to begin on November 1 and India has already lost the 3-Test series 2-0.
Bumrah, who played both Tests against Bangladesh and the first two Tests against New Zealand, is likely to be rested for the third dead-rubber Test, Indian Express reported.
This is to ensure that Bumrah has adequate recovery time and rest before the Indian team flies to Australia on November 10 for a highly-anticipated five-Test match Border Gavaskar Trophy assignment. Bumrah has flown back home to Ahmedabad on Wednesday night.
“He won’t be playing the Mumbai Test and has flown back home. The Indian team management wanted him to take some rest so that he could recover his body. He will now join the Indian team when the team departs for Australia,” a source informed.
Meanwhile, the report also stated that Indian team management wanted Bumrah to take a break and miss the second Test in Pune, but had to play him after India lost the first Test in Bengaluru.
Bumrah came with the Indian team to practice on Wednesday afternoon but he didn’t bowl in the nets. Instead, he did his drills and physical activity.
Indian team coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about Bumrah’s barely training on Wednesday.
Gambhir had said, “I think he’s (Bumrah) just done his preparations, I think we know how the weather is in Mumbai so obviously he needs to conserve his energy as well. So he’s done his bowling, he’s prepared really well and he’s fine. That’s why he’s a senior player, he knows how much he needs to prepare for the Test match.”
On the eve of the third Test, Indian team batting coach Abhishek Nayar too was asked about Bumrah’s availability.
Nayar had said, “He (Bumrah) has not bowled a lot. He has got ample rest. He is very important to us and workload is always in our mind.”
If India is to do well Down Under, with a berth in the World Test Championships final at stake, they will need a fresh and firing Bumrah to deliver.
(Indian Express report)