'Don't Bowl Jasprit Bumrah...': Legend's Warning To Gautam Gambhir And Shubman Gill
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Jasprit Bumrah should be used sparingly and only as a wicket-taking option, feels former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
'A fit Jasprit Bumrah' will be vital for India's hopes of winning their first Test series in England after 18 years, feels legendary captain Sourav Ganguly. England tour is Bumrah's first international assignment since the tour of Australia that ended on a painful note for the fast bowler as he ended up injuring his back midway through the fifth and final Test. The setback pushed him to the sidelines for several months and he ended up missing India's victorious campaign at the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Bumrah was the standout performer for India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the tour.
'Hoping Bumrah remains fit for the five Test matches," Ganguly told Revsportz. 'Even if it means giving him a break after the 2nd Test match and then getting him back for the 4th and 5th, because a fit Bumrah will be very important."
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has already confirmed that Bumrah will play three of the five Tests to manage his workload and to avoid a repeat of the injury setback he suffered in Australia.
Ganguly though advises that Bumrah must be used judiciously and India's new Test captain Shubman Gill deploy the senior pacer for short spells.
'Shubman Gill needs to understand not to bowl Bumrah into the ground. Use him as a wicket-taker, use him in short spells, so that he remains fit for five Test matches. And make sure the others (chip in) – young Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, has got tremendous fitness and ability, and is a warhorse," Ganguly said.
'Make sure Bumrah is used as a wicket-taker. He has got to understand that, and I am sure Gautam (Gambhir) is there, and the senior players there, they will guide him," he added.
The first Test of the series gets underway from June 20 in Leeds.
First Published:
June 12, 2025, 13:44 IST
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