‘We want Bumrah to play all Tests, other bowlers will have to take up responsibility’

'We want Bumrah to play all Tests, other bowlers will have to take up responsibility'

India's concerns over Jasprit Bumrah's fitness were heightened when he clutching his adductor during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Despite the discomfort, Bumrah continued to bowl, finishing with 16 overs in the match. His importance to the team is paramount, with 12 wickets at an average of 11.25 in the first two Tests.

Captain Rohit Sharma discussed the challenges of managing Bumrah's workload throughout the five-match series, stating, "We want Bumrah to play all the matches and remain fresh… It becomes important to manage all this." Other bowlers, such as Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, will need to contribute significantly.

The absence of Mohammed Shami, who has not played for India since the 2021 ODI World Cup final, adds complexity to the bowling plans. Rohit mentioned that Shami's return is possible, but the team is cautious due to his recent knee swelling during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.

Mohammed Siraj is expected to be the second lead in India's bowling cast, with Rohit backing him to handle external noise and focus on taking wickets. Harshit Rana, who had a challenging Test against Australia, is expected to receive continued support from the team.

Rohit's quotes:

• "We want Bumrah to play all the matches and remain fresh."
• "There are other bowlers who will have to take responsibility and work for the team."
• "The door is very much open [for Shami], but we are just monitoring him."
• "Siraj knows what he needs to do for the team and he will do everything he can to try and get wickets for his team."
• "We should back such things [Rana's heart and determination]."