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Ravichandran Ashwin advises Jasprit Bumrah to concentrate on white-ball cricket, highlighting workload concerns and his value to Indian cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah’s workload is a continuous concern (Picture credit: AFP)
Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has said that he would advise ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to only play white-ball cricket, adding that he would want Bumrah to steer clear of red-ball cricket unless the situation demands his presence, whilst the latter’s workload concerns loom.
Because the five-match Test series against England, Bumrah has played in all of India’s international games, the Asia Cup, two Tests against the Windies, five T20Is against Australia and the 2 Tests against South Africa.
Bumrah only skipped the ODIs and is now all set to return for the five-match T20I series against the South Africans, starting December 9.
Ever since he missed the ultimate Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia in January due to a back spasm, the team management has been extra cautious about managing Bumrah’s workload.
As one in every of India’s biggest match-winners, his fitness stays a top priority.
“I even have a terrific relationship with him. If I were anywhere near him, I might go and tell him, you already know what, just play the white ball format. Unless and until we’d like you, don’t step into the Test side,” Ashwin said while chatting with AB de Villiers on his YouTube channel.
“And that’s what I might tell him. But I do know him personally. He loves the Test format. He desires to play so long as he can. He knows it’ll be a challenge,” Ashwin said.
“But I believe for Indian cricket’s sake and for Bumrah’s sake, I might like to see him play T20 cricket. I might not want him to play meaningless ODIs. I might want him to play meaningful Tests, if that is sensible,” Ashwin added.
“Bumrah is a treasure for India. A novel motion which sets him apart, which also gives him loads of trouble along with his physical workload management. And that’s how I might view Bumrah in the long run,” Ashwin said.
November 28, 2025, 23:05 IST
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