Jasprit Bumrah has returned to cricket after a three-month-long break. And already, there are talks about whether the ace pacer should be rested for the IND vs BAN 2nd Test. That Kanpur will be a low and slow black-soil pitch, aiding spinners, the workload of the spinners will be high but not as much for the pace battery. Hence, should India rest Bumrah ahead of IND vs NZ Test series?
While Gautam Gambhir may not be in favour of frequent breaks, we are talking about Jasprit Bumrah, who needs constant workload management to be fit. India Cricket Team will play eight more Tests after IND vs BAN Kanpur Test in the lead-up to the WTC Final. And Rohit Sharma won’t be happy missing out on Bumrah either in Australia or in the WTC Final. That Bumrah has only played nine Tests at home since making his debut in 2018 is telling.
Jasprit Bumrah in Kanpur Test?
If it were any other bowler, he would not have been subjected to rest shortly after returning from a break. However, the workload he will have in the lead-up to the Australia tour, Bumrah needs to be managed.
“Bumrah is the attack leader. A critical part of India’s build-up to the Australian tour will be ensuring Bumrah is in form but remains fit to play the bulk of the five Tests,” former Australia captain Ian Chappell wrote in his column on ESPN Cricinfo in the build-up to the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
However, Bumrah is unlikely to play in the IND vs BAN T20I series. Hence, with a two-week gap between the Kanpur Test and IND vs NZ Test series, Bumrah will be rejuvenated.
In hot and humid Chennai, Jasprit Bumrah bowled 21 overs or 126 deliveries, the most among Indian pacers. From then on, India did not need his services as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja blew Bangladesh away.
Now in Kanpur, again Ashwin-Jadeja will take centre stage with the help of either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav. Bumrah’s services won’t be required as often. Hence, he will be under workload management even if he plays the Test.
Thus, India may continue playing Jasprit Bumrah as he is the pack’s leader and can bamboozle the opponent batters. To accommodate another spinner, Rohit Sharma will have to sacrifice a pacer in either Mohd Siraj or Akash Deep.
Who will partner with Bumrah?
The next question is, who will partner Bumrah or India will play just a lone seamer in Kanpur? In red-soil, Chennai, India went ahead with three seamers and two spinners. In Kanpur, it is going to change. Rohit-Gambhir duo could opt for three spinners and two seamers.
With Akash Deep bowling a fine spell, bagging two wickets in 11 overs bowled in the entire Test, he could be the first choice to partner with Bumrah. Mohd Siraj bowled 20.1 overs for two wickets. But his returns haven’t been great of late and could be dropped.
While India have played four spinners earlier, it is unlikely in Kanpur. There is a rain threat in the first four days of the IND vs BAN 2nd Test. Hence, the moisture in the air and cloud cover will help the seamers with the new ball. That could force Rphit-Gambhir to go with two seamers in the Playing XI.
