BCCI seems to have taken India’s current downfall in test cricket a bit seriously as they are lingering on the sixth spot in table, thus they have reportedly asked all the players to take Test Cricket seriously this upcoming cycle. BCCI also made it clear that they want Jasprit Bumrah to play all the upcoming matches in World Test Championship Cycle even at the expense of missing out some ODI games for him as part of workload management.
BCCI has told Bumrah to play two Tests each in New Zealand and Sri Lanka and the five-match series at home against Australia. Although the next ODI World Cup is right around the corner, still BCCI wants Bumrah to play all 9 remaining tests in the WTC Cycle even if missing ODI's as priority. Bumrah has always been a point of controversy for his work load management, last year after bowling in all five tests against Australia, he was given rest for two tests against England and also skipped the Champions Trophy. But the BCCI is clear that scenarios should change this time as they want Bumrah to take charge.
"The idea is to get serious about Tests. The Afghanistan Test may be outside the WTC cycle, but there’s nothing like match practice. The top players will be assessed, and a call on them will be taken accordingly,” said a BCCI official.
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BCCI attempts to keep Bumrah Fit for Test Cycle
BCCI is clear about their intentions with the availability of Jasprit Bumrah. “The attempt is to keep Bumrah fit enough to play all Tests. He is expected to play the four Tests in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The challenge will be to keep him fresh for the five Tests at home against Australia. The selectors won’t mind resting him for some ODI series. He played T20 cricket after a gap of two years in the Asia Cup last Sept and still delivered,” said a BCCI official.
After the IPL ends, India has a scheduled test match with Afghanistan on June 6th, although it is not a part of the WTC cycle, yet BCCI wants India to get on with it before the big encounters and even said clearly that close watch on individual performances will be kept before making a decision on the team for the WTC cycle. India does have a packed test season ahead with the Sri Lanka tour in September, New Zealand test in NZ, where they have not won a test since 2009 and then the intense Border Gavaskar Trophy from Jan- Feb 2027 on home soil.
India lately has been great in the shorter format of the game, but equally a downgrade in test, two whitewashes at home soil by New Zealand and Proteas was a nail in the coffin. Yet head coach Gambhir is optimistic about wins as he sees this as a transition period in test and he made it clear long back after winning the T20 World Cup, his focus would be to bring India back in Tests like it was before.
