‘He should not play all three formats’: Former India head coach on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management

New Delhi: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has welcomed return to the T20I team for the five-match series against New Zealand.

“There is no substitute for experience. When you have a bowler of Bhuvneshwar’s quality and experience, it’s a no-brainer. With the form he showed in the IPL and his years with India, he’ll be ideal for New Zealand conditions,” Shastri said as quoted by TOI.

Shastri also talked about Mohammed Shami’s comeback to the Indian team, saying that the pacer has done enough to get a recall in the white-ball and red-ball formats.

“He’s done enough with both red and white balls to be recalled to the Test and ODI sides,” he added.

‘Bumrah shouldn’t play all three formats until the World Cup’

Shastri also suggested that the Indian team management should carefully manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload in the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. He said that the pacer should mainly focus on Test cricket.

“I don’t think he should play all three formats until the World Cup. He should focus primarily on Test cricket and feature sporadically in ODIs and T20Is. I’d rather preserve him for the two Tests in New Zealand, where he’ll be crucial,” he said.

The five-match ODI series will provide the Men in Blue with valuable preparation for the 2027 World Cup, while the two Tests are also crucial for India to keep their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final alive.

The former head coach said that India probably need to win around 90 per cent of their remaining matches to qualify for the WTC final. After New Zealand, Shubman Gill and Co. will face Australia in the five-match Test series in January-February 2027.

“The entire tour is important. It will give a clear indication of where Indian cricket is heading. Conditions there could also mirror some of what India might face in South Africa during the World Cup, Shastri said.

“For India, qualifying for the final is an uphill task. They probably need to win around 90 per cent of their remaining games, including both Tests in New Zealand and at least four of the five against Australia. It’s not impossible, but a lot depends on other results as well,” he added.

The first T20I of the five-match series between India and New Zealand will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22.