The Team India think tank wants ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to concentrate on the red-ball portion of the upcoming New Zealand tour; thus, it is unlikely that he would play in the ODI series. India is set to play 5 T20Is, 5 ODIs, and 2 Tests on their tour of New Zealand, which begins on October 22.
As per the Times of India, Bumrah is supposedly fully fit, but he has been requested to play in the third India. A red-ball game on a New Zealand tour to increase his workload before joining the main Test team for the opening Test in Wellington.
There is enough time between the India A match, which starts on November 6, and the Wellington Test, which begins on November 19. Bumrah will arrive at the BCCI CoE before departing for New Zealand, having already begun his red-ball training in Ahmedabad.
"Bumrah is completely fit, but for a long tour, it's important to prioritize. The Test series is very important, so there's no point making Bumrah slog it out in the ODIs and then suddenly shift focus to red-ball cricket. He is the leader of the bowling pack, and a fresh, ready Bumrah is the priority right now," says a source tracking developments told TOI.
Notably, Bumrah last participated in a multi-day match at home against South Africa last year. He was unable to play in the two Test matches against Sri Lanka earlier this year due to a knee injury, but the Indian team management wants him prepared for the next Tests.
Key personnel have been consulted on several occasions, with an emphasis on both New Zealand and the five Test matches against Australia in the early part of next year. A similar strategy is anticipated in the lead-up to that series; thus, it might not be shocking to keep Bumrah away from meaningless bilateral games.
"The plan is not just for New Zealand, but discussions are also happening for the BGT next year. There is no point wasting Bumrah for inconsequential bilaterals. Right now, the WTC is the focus, and all energies will be directed at planning for that," adds the source.
India's ODI and Test squads are likely to be announced in the next few days as the selectors continue to wait for updates on players like Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Rishabh Pant.
