Jasprit Bumrah played only one T20I in ongoing New Zealand T20Is.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has questioned the need for resting Jasprit Bumrah from the Indian XI for the second T20I against New Zealand that was played in Raipur on Friday, January 23.
Given that Bumrah did not participate in the ODI series and did not play domestic cricket like the majority of his colleagues, Kaif questioned why he needed a break.
Since his difficult back stress injury in January of last year, Bumrah's workload has been strictly controlled. Because the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reluctant to jeopardize his fitness for temporary benefits, he has even missed crucial games.
“Rest for what? What workload? Did he just come back after playing a lot? He has already come after taking proper rest. No, no, this thing just doesn’t make sense to me. If you want to give rest, give rest to Arshdeep Singh. If you want to bring in Harshit Rana, if Axar Patel is injured and you need batting at number eight, then rest Arshdeep and bring in Bumrah. I mean, why are we even comparing here? There is no comparison at all," Kaif said in a YouTube video.
Kaif also thought Bumrah had been pulled out for Harshit because of his hitting ability, but he found it revolting.
“If Bumrah was left out because of a combination, saying that you need batting at number eight, then that is wrong. No power in the world can keep Bumrah out because of the team combination. The team will adjust the combination, but Bumrah will play in the XI," he added.
Kaif further stated that Bumrah doesn’t even play domestic cricket, that his workload has to be managed, and that he was rested after playing only one T20I.
“A bowler like Jasprit Bumrah cannot be rested after one match. He hasn’t even been playing that much anyway. He didn’t play ODIs. He has already come after taking a rest. He doesn’t even play domestic cricket much. Siraj, on the other hand, goes and plays domestic cricket whenever he gets the chance. He plays Ranji, and he plays Vijay Hazare. Bumrah has come properly rested," the former cricketer said.
India will play the third T20I on Sunday in Guwahati with a 2-0 lead behind them.