Mumbai, October 19,2026: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged the Indian team management to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload carefully and preserve the fast bowler for next year’s 50-over World Cup, suggesting he should primarily feature in Test cricket while being used sparingly in other formats.
Bumrah was recalled to India’s Test squad for their two-match series in New Zealand last week but will miss the five one-day internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 internationals (T20Is) scheduled before the Tests.
The 32-year-old pacer has endured repeated injury setbacks, particularly with his back, and underwent surgery in 2023. He was also ruled out of a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in August due to a left knee injury before returning to T20 cricket at the Asian Games, where he helped India win gold.
“I don’t think he should play all three formats till the ODI World Cup,” Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, told Indian media.
“He should play Test cricket and should play sporadically between one-day internationals and T20 cricket. He also shouldn’t be playing the whole lot.”
Shastri stressed that Test cricket should remain a priority for Bumrah, given his importance to the national side.
“I would rather preserve him for the Test matches. That’s very important. He becomes a key member of that Indian side. Then he should be used sparingly in the other formats,” he said.
After their tour of New Zealand, India are scheduled to host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in limited-overs series before taking on Australia in a five-Test series that concludes in February.
India’s management will need to balance Bumrah’s availability across formats with the demands of a busy international calendar and preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, 2027. Managing Bumrah’s fitness and workload is likely to remain an important consideration as India prepare for the global event.
