File photo of Travis Head (left) and Jasprit Bumrah.© AFP
As India faltered against Australia in the second Test of the five-match series, Japsrit Bumrah continued to live up to expectations. The right-arm pacer took four wickets in Australia's first innings against India in the day-night Test in Adelaide. This came after Bumrah won the Player of the Match award in the first match in Perth with 8 wickets to his name, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Considering the amount of importance Bumrah holds, it is difficult for India to rest the pacer during the ongoing Test series against Australia. However, Bumrah's workload management must also be taken into account.
Such a dilemma must be present in the minds of the team management. When asked about the same, former India player Sanjay Manjrekar said that Bumrah should be played in all five Tests against Australia and he could be rested in one of those bilateral matches which are less important.
“I play him every Test match purely because Indian cricket cares for Bumrah. And I have said this before too, the number is etched in my mind. 34% of the international matches played by India in the last three years have been what Bumrah has played only 34% of what Indian cricket has played, so he is well rested And this is the time when you need that because these are the series that will be remembered forever,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.
“Give him a break in one of those bilateral talks that we forget about 48 hours later,” he added.
In particular, the ongoing tour of Australia is extremely big for the Indian cricket team as it will have a major say in its eventual World Test Championship hopes.
If India manages to win the Test series against Australia 4-1, they will book themselves a WTC final berth. The series is currently tied at 1-1. If India loses another Test match against the hosts, their qualification will depend entirely on the results in the series between Sri Lanka and Australia.
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