Jasprit Bumrah has been the star performer for India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia so far. While the right-arm quick claimed a match haul of eight wickets in the Perth Test win, he returned with four scalps in the pink-ball Test loss at the Adelaide Oval.
With the five-match series currently poised at 1-1, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has said that Bumrah needs to play the remaining three Tests unless he is injured.
“I would like him to play all 5 Test matches. You’re playing for India, there is no question about workload and stuff like that. He has to play all 5 Test matches unless he is injured. This match finished in 2 and a half days. This hasn’t gone for 5 days. So the man gets 5 days of break. If he has a problem or an injury, then yes. But if he doesn’t have an injury. You have been giving 4-over, 5-over spells. That is perfect. That’s the way to go, unless you have taken a wicket or two. If you take a wicket in your 5th over, give him a 6th one," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by India Today.
Bumrah was attended by the team’s physio during the 81st over of Australia’s first innings in Adelaide, which left the Indian fans worried. However, he resumed bowling immediately, completing his over and delivering three more overs later in the session.
The Indian pace spearhead seemed fit and bowled an over in Australia’s second innings as well. Gavaskar called Bumrah India’s ‘battering ram’ who needs to be used strategically.
“He is your battering ram. If you’re not going to play him in all 5 matches, you reduce your chance of taking 20 Australian wickets. How he is used is up to the captain. He has to be used in such a way that he is effective each time he comes to bowl," Gavaskar remarked.
After India’s crushing 10-wicket defeat in the second Test, India skipper Rohit Sharma issued a strong message to his bowling unit, emphasizing the need for shared responsibility.
Rohit stressed that Jasprit Bumrah can’t shoulder the entire burden and urged other fast bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana among others to step up and contribute.
"We are not just playing with one bowler. There are other bowlers also who will have to take responsibility and get the job done for the team, be it (Mohammed) Siraj, Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy, Akash Deep or Prasidh (Krishna)," Rohit said in the post-match presser.
The third Test is scheduled to get underway on Saturday (December 14) at the Gabba, Brisbane.
