Shastri also talked about challenges for Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant on New Zealand tour.
Former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri has advised Jasprit Bumrah to avoid taking on much workload till the ICC World Cup 2027 and not to play all three formats till the ICC event.
Bumrah's availability for India's final seven World Test Championship (WTC 2027) tests—two away against New Zealand and five at home against Australia—as well as the importance of him remaining injury-free in the run-up to the ODI World Cup late next year are crucial for captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
“I don't think he should play all three formats till the ODI World Cup. He should play Test cricket and should play sporadically between one-day internationals and T20 cricket. He also shouldn't be playing the whole lot,” Shastri said in an interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network.
The BCCI selectors are thinking along the same lines as Shastri, as Bumrah has been rested for the white-ball leg of the New Zealand tour and will only play the two-Test series. This is to ensure he remains fit for the five-Test series against Australia at home.
“I would rather preserve him for the Test matches. That's very important. He becomes a key member of that Indian side. Then he should be used sparingly in the other formats,” Shastri added.
With a 2-2 draw against England in 2025, Gill demonstrated his leadership abilities on his maiden international trip. More significantly, he scored 754 runs at an average of 75.40, leading from the front and trailing only Don Bradman (810 runs) for the most runs scored by a captain in a Test series. In his second international trip, he won 1-0 in the Test series in Sri Lanka.
Although Shastri thought Gill would have a solid grasp of the circumstances, defeating New Zealand in their own territory is a very different story.
“It's a test. New Zealand's conditions are not a team that's easy to beat. Only Australia has had an edge over them. With respect to Gill's captaincy, it's a challenge, but then he is in prime form. He has always done well in New Zealand, right from a young age. I think he knows those conditions pretty well. But for a young captain travelling overseas, it will be a good challenge,” Shastri stated.
With the kind of form Bhuvneshwar Kumar has showcased over the last 24 months, the national call-up was a "no-brainer," according to Shastri.
“There is no substitute for experience. It's not bought or sold in the market. I think it's a no-brainer. With the kind of form he showed in the IPL, he'll be ideal for New Zealand conditions,” Shastri added.
Shastri also had advice for Rishabh Pant, who lost his spot in the India white-ball team. He asked Pant to be smart and be aware of the match situations.
“I have never given a message to Rishabh Pant. I tell him to just be smart. He does not have to change for anybody and should play his natural game. Go out there and entertain. But just be aware of the match situation,” Shastri concluded.
India’s tour to New Zealand begins with the five T20Is from October 22. It will be followed by five ODIs and two Test matches.
(Sony Sports inputs)