After completing his three-Test quota in the five-match series against England, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was released from the national squad on Friday. Indian cricket officials are already talking about his next international tour.
Bumrah, 31, bowled 119.4 overs in three games and secured 14 wickets. Jasprit Bumrah has been released from India’s squad for the fifth Test of the series against England, the BCCI said in a statement on Friday.
Bumrah took five wickets twice – once at Headingley in the first Test and again at Lord’s in the third game. But in Manchester, he gave up over 100 runs in a single innings for the first time. Bumrah now has 219 wickets in 48 Tests.
Before India left, selection committee head Ajit Agarkar verified that the pace star would play no more than three Tests to manage his workload.
What’s next for Bumrah?
India’s next international event is the Asia Cup T20 tournament. It would be unexpected if Bumrah chose to play, given that the next Test series against the West Indies starts less than a week after the event in the UAE.
The Asia Cup ends on September 29, and the first Test against the West Indies starts in Ahmedabad on October 2, followed by the second match in New Delhi from October 10-14. Then, in November, there are two Tests against South Africa.
It will be a tough choice, but Bumrah loves Test cricket, and World Test Championship points are on the line. He could play in the T20 series against New Zealand in January as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup, a BCCI source familiar with Indian selection told PTI anonymously.
If Bumrah plays in the Asia Cup and India reaches the final, he can’t play against the West Indies at Ahmedabad. The question is whether you need Bumrah against the West Indies, or if he should play in the Asia Cup after a month off and then play in the two Tests against South Africa. Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir will have to decide, the source added.
Bumrah is not likely to play many ODIs before the T20 World Cup at home.