Jasprit Bumrah doesn't deserve rest yet: Team India

The Indian team management has shot down speculations of Harshit Rana replacing Jasprit Bumrah in the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, saying that the ace India cricket team pacer hasn’t bowled a lot to demand or deserve rest.

The management also added that there will no additions to the existing squad, hinting that Rana may not eventually play at all.   

“No additions to the squad, firstly,” said Abhishek Nayar, the assistant coach of the India team, to the media.  

Nayar was asked if there is a plan to rest Bumrah who couldn't take a wicket in the second Test, wasn’t given much bowling and sparked speculations that he could be rested as he had bowled in four Tests this season.

The former India and Mumbai player swatted away the suggestion by saying that the right-arm pacer hasn’t bowled much.

Bumrah bowled 27 overs (19+8) in the first Test in Bengaluru and 14 overs (8+6) in the second Test in Pune. Adding up, he has bowled only 41 overs. The 30-year-old picked three wickets in the first Test and no wicket in the second Test.

“Bumrah hasn’t bowled a lot. He has bowled 25 overs in every match [on an average]. There has not been five days of cricket in any of the Tests. It has been about three days of cricket in each Test. He has got ample rest. Booms is very important to us and handling his workload will be the first thing on our mind.”

He also pointed out that the Wankhede pitch will help the pace bowlers.

“I always believe Wankhede Stadium will assist pace. The morning session will have swing. At Wankhede, pacers have a bit of smile.”

In that case, it is unlikely India team will rest their premier pace bowler.

Tags : Jasprit Bumrah, India cricket team, New Zealand cricket team, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, INDvNZ, INDvsNZ , Abhishek Nayar