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NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace stalwart who often finds himself at the centre of workload management discussions, has now drawn a strong viewpoint from former India off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
With Bumrah coming off a demanding stretch across formats, Ashwin believes India must rethink how the fast bowler is deployed in the longest format.
Ashwin calls for selective Test involvement
In a chat with AB de Villiers on YouTube, Ashwin argued that India should preserve Bumrah more carefully and resist the temptation to use him in every Test.
Ashwin said, “If I had a say, I would tell him to focus on white ball cricket and avoid stepping in for Tests unless the team absolutely needs him.”
He added that even though Bumrah loves the format and embraces the challenge, India must take decisive steps to protect his longevity.
According to him, “For India and for Bumrah, it makes more sense to save his energy for T20 cricket and more meaningful Test series, especially the ones overseas.”
He suggested that India should build a stronger pool of quicks for home conditions, reducing the dependency on their frontline bowler in every series.
‘A treasure’ who needs long term protection
Ashwin also emphasised why such careful planning is crucial.
He remarked, “He is a treasure. His unique action gives him an advantage but also puts him under a big physical burden, so his workload must be handled with care.”
de Villiers backs even stricter plan
AB de Villiers supported Ashwin’s view but went a step further, saying Bumrah should be kept out of all Tests in Asia.
de Villiers said, “I would not play him in any subcontinental Tests. Use him only in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England, and keep him fresh for white ball world events.”
