Former Indian player turned coach Ravi Shastri urged veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah to focus primarily on Tests ahead of the upcoming New Zealand tour. Bumrah has dealt with injuries throughout his career, including a left knee injury that kept him out of India’s most recent Test series in Sri Lanka as well.

Talking about Jasprit Bumrah and his international future, Shastri told the Sony Sports Network (via TOI): “I don’t think he should play all three formats until the World Cup. He should focus primarily on Test cricket and feature sporadically in ODIs and T20Is. I’d rather preserve him for the two Tests in New Zealand, where he’ll be crucial. The entire tour is important. It will give a clear indication of where Indian cricket is heading. Conditions there could also mirror some of what India might face in South Africa during the World Cup.”

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Ravi Shastri also backed veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the Indian T20I team for the upcoming five-match series in New Zealand. He has not played for India since the 2022 New Zealand tour.

“There is no substitute for experience. When you have a bowler of Bhuvneshwar’s quality and experience, it’s a no-brainer. With the form he showed in the IPL and his years with India, he’ll be ideal for New Zealand conditions,” Ravi Shastri cocnluded.