 "Jasprit Bumrah had played a key role in India's triumph in the T20 World Cup last year, India's last major assignment in the shortest format. AP")
After being rested for the fifth and final Test against England , Jasprit Bumrah faces the possibility of an extended period on the sidelines with the Indian pace spearhead likely to miss the Asia Cup in the UAE next month, as per BCCI sources.
Bumrah played only three matches in the ongoing five-Test series in England, and according to sources quoted by news agency Press Trust of India, it’s the same workload management that will force Bumrah to miss the continental event that will be taking place in the T20 format from 9 to 28 September .
Crucial WTC points at stake
Bumrah, it has been learnt, is being kept fresh for the home Test season that gets underway less than a week after the conclusion of the Asia Cup with the first of two Tests against West Indies getting underway in Ahmedabad on 2 October.
“It will be a tricky call but Bumrah loves Test cricket and there are World Test Championship points at stake. As far as T20 is concerned, he can play the series against New Zealand in January, which will be a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup,” a BCCI source abreast with Indian selection process told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“If Bumrah plays Asia Cup and suppose India plays the final, no way can he play against West Indies at Ahmedabad. Obviously the question arises, do you need Bumrah against West Indies or he plays Asia Cup after a month’s break and plays the two Tests against South Africa. That call, Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir will have to take,” the source added.
The 31-year-old pacer had finished with 14 wickets at an average of 26 in three Tests, featuring in the series opener at Headingley as well as in the third and fourth Tests at Lord’s and Old Trafford. Bumrah was released from the India squad on Friday, a day after captain Shubman Gill confirmed the pacer was rested for the series finale at The Oval.
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India, meanwhile, have been placed in the same group as arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup despite the two nations having engaged in a military conflict in May in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The Men in Blue, who were originally scheduled to host the event, are the defending champions in the ODI format and will be hoping to win their second T20 title next month.