Jasprit Bumrah will feature in the upcoming two-Test series between India and New Zealand.
India will begin the ODI leg of their New Zealand tour at Auckland’s Eden Park on Wednesday, with Bumrah absent from the series after being rested by the team management. Bumrah has been named in India’s squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand that begins on November 19.
Bumrah last played for India in the Asian Games 2026. It is likely that Bumrah might get some red-ball practice by featuring in the third and final four-day game between New Zealand A and India, to be played in Lincoln from November 7.
“There is often a perception that players are simply picking and choosing what they want to play. I don’t think that is the case at all. Experienced bowlers understand their bodies very well. They are constantly discussing their workloads with medical staff and coaches, assessing what they can physically handle. The biggest risk period is always when a player is returning from injury and readjusting to competitive cricket," Bond told Times of India.
“That is why I think it is pretty harsh on Bumrah to suggest he is picking and choosing," Bond added.
The BCCI has been very cautious about Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness since he had serious back surgery in 2023. He again suffered from a stress reaction to his back in 2025, causing him to leave the fifth and final test in Sydney midway. This issue also led to him missing the ICC Champions Trophy later that year.
“It applies not just to Bumrah but to every player. India plays an enormous amount of cricket, so managing workloads is essential. You want your best players fit, fresh, and ready when the World Cup arrives next October or November," Bond said.
Bumrah had suffered a knee injury during the England ODIs, which caused him to miss the Sri Lanka Tests, before making his return in the Asian Games 2026.