Sport · Singapore Bureau
Shastri advocates measured Bumrah workload ahead of ODI World Cup
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has recommended that the national team preserve pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's fitness by limiting his appearances outside Test cricket in the lead-up to next year's one-day international World Cup.
LSN Singapore ·
Shastri, who steered India's cricket program until late 2021, believes a strategic approach to Bumrah's selection could prove crucial for the team's World Cup aspirations. The bowling ace should be deployed primarily in the longer format, with his participation in limited-overs cricket carefully managed, according to the former coach.
Bumrah has established himself as one of international cricket's premier pace bowlers across all formats. However, the rigours of playing multiple formats simultaneously have raised concerns among analysts about maintaining his peak performance when it matters most.
The recommendation comes as India prepares for the forthcoming World Cup cycle, with selectors facing the familiar balancing act of managing player workloads across Test, one-day, and Twenty20 cricket. Preserving key players' fitness and form for major tournaments remains a central strategic consideration for any cricket board.
Shastri's suggestion reflects broader industry discussions about player management in an increasingly congested international cricket calendar, where protecting star performers during non-marquee matches could yield significant dividends in championship fixtures.