Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra said he is not able to understand Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management ahead of the ODI series against Australia. Bumrah has not been picked for the ODI series against Australia but he will play in the T20Is.
As there is a small window between the end of the T20I series against Australia and the start of the opening Test against South Africa, Bumrah is expected to miss the last two games against the Aussies.
Chopra highlighted that he expected Bumrah to play only the Delhi Test match against the West Indies after missing the opening game at Ahmedabad but the ace pacer went on to play both games. Bumrah played only three out of the five Test matches against England.
“I was also slightly surprised. I felt he wouldn’t play both Tests, maybe he would play one Test, and that would be the second Test in Delhi, and he would miss Ahmedabad, but he didn’t do that,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He is missing the ODIs, and I feel he will also miss the last two T20Is in Australia, and he should as well, because within five days of that, you will be playing a Test match in Kolkata, and this Test match is against South Africa. It is going to be extremely critical. So I am unable to understand the workload management, especially when we look at Jasprit,” he added.
The renowned commentator said the selectors are giving leeway to Bumrah as he is a rare talent and has performed magnificently for India across all formats.
“He is a very, very unique case because he is an extremely rare talent. When you have a rare talent like that, you give them a little leeway. You ask them to say how they are feeling. You let them play if they can and miss it if they want to miss,” he said.
“He is being given slightly preferential special treatment currently because there is no one like Jassi. There is only one guy. So we assume that whatever is right for him is right for everyone else, which is not a bad thing. I am okay with that,” Chopra observed.
Bumrah will be seen in action in the T20I series against Australia.
