Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is all set for a much-awaited comeback into competitive cricket, possibly starting with the impending two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh. The Indian Express reported that Bumrah, who last featured for India in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa in Barbados on 29 June 2024, will probably play in one of the two Test matches slated for next month.
The red-ball series between India and Bangladesh is slated to commence on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, while the second Test is likely to be held at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium. If Bumrah can recover and play these games, it would be a tactical move to include him in the team after his injury and rehabilitation process.
Given his huge influence and experience, the team management should be out to exercise due care in handling his workload so that he will remain fit and firing for the rest of the season. Right after the series against Bangladesh, India will play New Zealand in a three-Test series. With only a three-day gap between each Test, Bumrah is likely to feature in two out of the three Tests as part of his fitness management.
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma and Jay Shah Take T20 World Cup Trophy To Siddhivinayak Temple
Mohammed Siraj is likely to lead the Indian pace attack against Bangladesh in place of Bumrah. Similar to Bumrah, Siraj will also be rotated through the home season to keep him fit and in form. An official from BCCI gave the reason for this selection strategy, which had to be all about balance between experience and youth.
#JaspritBumrah, who last played for India during the #T20WorldCup 2024 final against #SouthAfrica on June 29, 2024, is likely to play one out of the two Tests against #Bangladesh#INDvsBAN #CricketUpdate #Sportsnews https://t.co/r6O8IxgywU pic.twitter.com/5FY2fupXMH
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 22, 2024
“We cannot rest everyone at one go because you need experience, even in home conditions. Like in the case of the England series, where India paired a senior pacer with a youngster, a similar approach would be adopted,” he explained. The BCCI is also keeping an eye on some promising fast bowlers who will be performing during the Duleep Trophy, considering them as potential candidates for the upcoming Australian tour.
ALSO READ: Matthew Hayden Analyzes Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Shortcomings Ahead of Australia’s Tour of India
Bumrah has also been going great, having played four out of five Tests against England earlier this year and claimed 15 wickets during T20 World Cup 2024. His performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award. He was, however, rested for the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe and the subsequent white-ball tour of Sri Lanka straight after the World Cup. He has also been kept out of squads for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which gets underway on September 5 in Andhra Pradesh, thus allowing him to recover and his workload managed.
