Bumrah has just skipped the ODIs after facing backlash for workload management during England tour.
Earlier this year, Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah faced backlash for playing just three of the five Test matches on the tour of England to manage his workload.
Since then, the ace fast bowler has participated in nearly all of India's international assignments, including the Asia Cup, two Tests against the West Indies, five T20Is against Australia, and the two Tests against South Africa.
Bumrah has just skipped the ODIs and is all set to return to action in the five-T20I series against the Proteas, slated to get underway on December 9 in Cuttack.
Ever since Bumrah sustained a back spasm in the Sydney Test against Australia, the Indian team management has been extra careful about managing his workload. As a result of that injury, he missed the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the initial few matches of the IPL 2025 season for Mumbai Indians.
Ahead of the England tour, Bumrah had revealed that he himself requested the BCCI not to consider him for Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma's retirement, as he would not be able to play all five Tests.
Amid the growing debate around Bumrah's workload, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that if it were to him, he would just use the speedster in white-ball formats and rely on his skills in Tests when absolutely required.
“I've got a great relationship with him. If I were anywhere near him, I'd go and tell him, you know what, just play the white ball format. Unless and until we need you, do not step into the Test side. And that's what I would tell him. But I know him personally. He loves the Test format. He wants to play as long as he can. He knows it's going to be a challenge,” Ashwin said during a conversation with AB de Villiers on YouTube.
“But I think for Indian cricket's sake and for Bumrah's sake, I'd love to see him play T20 cricket. I wouldn't want him to play meaningless ODIs. I would want him to play meaningful Test matches, if that makes sense. I'd only want him for the away Test matches. And I would want to build a crop of other fast bowlers when we are playing at home as well,” he added.
Ashwin further went on to say that Bumrah is a national treasure, and his unconventional bowling action requires the need for workload management.
"Bumrah is a treasure for India. A unique action which sets him apart, which also gives him a lot of trouble with his physical workload management. And that's how I would view Bumrah in the future. An absolute champion, who's set up some very famous victories for India in the last few years,” he remarked.
South African legend de Villiers also shared his two cents, saying he would pull Bumrah out of all subcontinent Tests and just utilise his services when the team travels to SENA contries.
“What I would personally do is, for all home and subcontinent test matches, I would just pull him out. And I would play him for only away games. In Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England,” said de Villiers.
“All the test matches there. Make sure he's fresh for that. And then obviously focus on white ball cricket, where there are World Cups up for grabs,” he added.