Should Jasprit Bumrah play before India’s hectic Test series?

Jasprit Bumrah, often regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in modern cricket, is being carefully managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to his injury history. After a long break and a strong performance at the T20 World Cup 2024, Bumrah was rested for the ODI series against Sri Lanka and skipped the first round of Duleep Trophy fixtures.

Bumrah has had his share of injuries over the years, including a thumb injury in 2018, a lower-back stress fracture in 2019, an abdominal strain in 2021, and a lengthy back injury in 2022 that kept him out of the T20 World Cup 2022 and IPL 2023. These injuries have often kept him out of crucial matches for India, yet whenever he has played, the 30-year-old has been a standout performer.

India is now gearing up for a busy Test schedule, starting with two matches against Bangladesh. There is ongoing debate about whether Bumrah should play in these fixtures or be saved for the more challenging series against New Zealand that follows. According to a BCCI official, Bumrah is expected to return for the New Zealand series, emphasizing his importance in India’s quest to qualify for the World Test Championship Final.

Given the packed schedule ahead, which includes the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a possible tour of England for five Tests, some argue that Bumrah may need game time to get back into form. However, others believe that he could be eased back into action by playing in the T20 series against Bangladesh, where he would only need to bowl four overs.

Bumrah has not played any professional cricket since the T20 World Cup 2024, and while his return is eagerly anticipated, the BCCI’s cautious approach aims to keep him fit and ready for the challenges ahead. Whether he needs to play in the upcoming Bangladesh Tests or just prepare for the more significant fixtures remains a crucial decision for the team management.