Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has added that Jasprit Bumrah might not play all Tests in a series going forward. However, the analyst also stated that Bumrah shouldn’t retire from the format, saying that he would be fine even if Bumrah plays selective matches in a series. Notably, Bumrah had said ahead of the ongoing five-match Test series that he would play only three Tests as well and he has already played 3 as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “It had been decided before the start of the series that Bumrah would play only three Tests, and if he plays three only, and doesn’t even take the risk of playing the fourth one, knowing fully well that there is no cricket for the next one month, it’s true that his participation will remain limited.”
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“With Jasprit Bumrah, it is going to be pick and choose, which is absolutely fine. I feel he should play until he can play. If there is a four-match series in India, it shouldn’t be that he doesn’t play even one because he can’t play all four. It is not right. The kind of bowler Bumrah is, if he gives me two out of four Tests, I will still be okay with the fact that he is giving two,” he further added.
However, Aakash Chopra also added that Jasprit Bumrah needs to be given some flexibility regarding workload management, as he is an important player.
“We will try to manage his workload because there are a few once-in-a-generation players who you want to manage, who you want to handle properly. Everyone should be handled properly, but he is an extremely special player. So I am not in that camp that says he should retire if he can’t play all five Tests,” he said.
“I would say no, my brother. Play as much as you can because your playing makes a difference. When we are talking about transition, it’s not only in batting. It’s also in bowling. Shami isn’t here at the moment. Ishant Sharma used to be there, but he is not there now. You need a few elders when the transition is happening,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
