Former Indian Head coach Ravi Shastri warned the Indian selectors and the team management about rushing Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback into the Indian side for ODI World Cup later this year, as they may lose him just like Pakistan speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was rushed during the 2022 T20 World Cup which eventually proved costly for their side in the future tournaments.
Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be back in the Indian colours in the Ireland series starting in August to get fully fit for the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 later this year in India. The 29-year-old has been one of the best fast bowlers of the decade, however, he is often sidelined due to injuries.
Speaking on the Week, Ravi Shastri admitted that Jasprit Bumrah would be a vital cog for the Indian team in the forthcoming ODI World Cup, but has warned the Indian management about rushing him to the team, as it may give a potential threat to losing for some more months just like Shaheen Shah Afridi.
“That’s the concern, you want him fit. He is such a world-class operator but you want him fully fit. He is such an important cricketer, you think should we rush him for the World Cup? Then you do that and then lose him for four months after that. Much like Shaheen Afridi. Pakistan rushed him into that T20 World Cup and he has not played till just recently. He was out for four months,” Ravi Shastri said
The Right arm pacer has been India’s best bowler across all three formats since his debut for the Men in Blue in International Cricket, Bumrah hasn’t played since the T20Is against Australia in September of last year. According to reports in Cricbuzz, Bumrah is making good progress and may very well be at his peak fitness when he returns to the blues and he is most likely to make a return to the Indian team very soon.
Sometimes You Want To Go Back To The Field And It Can Be A Costly Error – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri believes that the team Jasprit Bumrah should decide about his comeback into the side, as these decisions can be sometimes too costly in prolonging his career in International Cricket and added that the World Cup being held in India, they need not require many fast bowlers in the squad as they have enough depth in the spinning bowling department.
“Thin line you draw about being greedy and wanting to play and the individual has to think about himself. Sometimes you want to go back to the field and it can be a costly error. It’s something you have got to look at. I think there is Shami and Siraj so there is experience”.
“You don’t need too many fast bowlers in India. It is more the spin department. That is also covered with Jaddu and Axar, and you’ve got a few leg spinners around like Chahal, Kuldeep, and Bishnoi. So you have enough depth there,” Ravi Shastri added.
Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj have been playing as the primary pacer in the side, in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah in the side and they will look to do well for the side in the marquee event later this year.