Sunil Gavaskar advises India to rest pacer Jasprit Bumrah for upcoming Asia Cup matches against Oman and Pakistan to keep him fresh for the final. He also suggests batting order changes to prepare other players ahead of crucial games.
Ahead of India’s crucial matches in the Asia Cup, former India captain and cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that pacer Jasprit Bumrah should be rested for the upcoming group game against Oman and possibly even the high-stakes Super 4 clash against Pakistan. Gavaskar’s advice aims to keep Bumrah fresh and injury-free for the Asia Cup final scheduled on September 28.
Gavaskar’s Advice: Rest Bumrah to Save Energy for Bigger Matches
Speaking to broadcasters Sony Sports, Gavaskar emphasized the importance of managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload carefully, especially given the fast bowler’s recent struggles with rhythm and fitness. Bumrah has played in both of India’s Asia Cup games so far, against the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, picking up three wickets but showing signs of rustiness.
“I believe Jasprit Bumrah should be rested, perhaps even for the Pakistan game, so he’s available for the bigger match on Sunday, the 28th. That’s what India should be looking at,” Gavaskar said. The veteran also mentioned the need to include one bench player but stressed resting Bumrah to preserve his pace and sharpness for the final.
Opportunity for Other Batters to Shine
In addition to resting Jasprit Bumrah, Gavaskar suggested a strategic reshuffle in the batting order to prepare other players ahead of the crucial stages of the tournament. He recommended that captain Suryakumar Yadav consider dropping down the order to allow emerging talents like Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson to get valuable batting time.
Samson, who has been assigned a new role batting at number five, has yet to get an opportunity at the crease this tournament. Gavaskar sees the upcoming match against Oman as an ideal platform for Samson and Tilak Varma to gain experience and confidence.
“I would like to think India would consider batting first and keep the same opening pair. Maybe number three, Suryakumar Yadav, the skipper, could drop himself down the order, giving Tilak Varma a chance for some time at the crease and allowing Sanju Samson a bit of a hit as well,” Gavaskar said.
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Preparing for the Road Ahead
Gavaskar highlighted the importance of giving batters more match practice, not only for the game against Pakistan but also for the upcoming Super 4 fixtures against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He believes that focusing on the batting lineup’s form is critical for India’s title ambitions, while the bowling attack can be managed more conservatively.
“This would give the batters some practice not just for the game against Pakistan, but also for the upcoming Super 4 matches. It’s more about preparing the batters than the bowlers,” he added.
Context: Jasprit Bumrah ’s Recent Form and Fitness
Jasprit Bumrah, known for his lethal pace and accuracy, has had a challenging period recently with fitness concerns. He missed some matches in the previous England Test series but delivered impactful performances when fit. His current form in the Asia Cup indicates a need for cautious workload management to avoid injury and maintain peak performance.
What’s Next for India?
India will face Oman next, followed by the highly anticipated Super 4 match against Pakistan. Gavaskar’s insights suggest a strategy focusing on player rotation and building batting depth to keep the team fresh for the final showdown on September 28.