Bumrah likely to skip ODIs on New Zealand tour to focus on Test series
Fully fit Jasprit Bumrah may be rested for the ODI series in New Zealand as team management wants him ready for the two Tests, a report says.
Images are not validated/verified
After the series against the West Indies, the Indian team will leave for the tour of New Zealand, which begins on October 22. Ahead of that, it has emerged that India's star bowler Jasprit Bumrah may miss the ODI series against New Zealand.
Bumrah had been troubled by a major injury for some time. He is now fully fit and ready to return to the field. Even so, the team management is not willing to take any risk with him, so he will be played only in big matches. According to a media report, Bumrah is likely to be seen in only one format on this tour and is unlikely to be available for the ODIs.
The management wants Bumrah to concentrate only on Test matches. He will not play in the ODI series in November, which runs till November 15. However, he may play for India A before the two-Test series against New Zealand. The BCCI has announced the India A team for two matches, while the team for the third match is yet to be picked. Bumrah may play in the third unofficial Test, to be held between November 7 and November 10. The three-match unofficial Test series between India A and New Zealand A begins on October 24.
The report says Jasprit Bumrah is fully fit, but the coming Test series is extremely important. It would therefore not be right for him to work hard in the ODIs and then turn his attention to Tests. The management wants him to focus only on red-ball cricket. As he leads India's bowling attack, the first priority is that he be fully fit and ready for the Tests.
According to information received, Bumrah has begun preparations in Ahmedabad for a return to the Indian team. He may reach the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru by the end of this month. India's ODI and Test squads will leave for New Zealand on October 28. The five-match T20 series between the two countries will begin on October 22.
Bumrah's career so far has been outstanding. He has been part of the Indian team for several years and has won big matches for India with his incisive bowling. He has taken 234 wickets in 52 Tests and 151 wickets in 91 ODIs. He has also made his mark in T20s, with 126 wickets in 100 matches. His economy rate has been excellent in all three formats.
