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With the Team India players currently featuring in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), they will reunite in June, before kickstarting their England tour, set to be played from June 20 until August 5. With the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England, the ICC will kickstart their World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2025-27.
But ahead of the highly-anticipated Test series, former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has shared a key pre-requisite. The former cricketer turned commentator feels that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) needs to manage the workload of star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah in order to keep him available and fit for the series as well as the next few assignments.
Ideally, make him play four: Ravi Shastri on Jasprit Bumrah
Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri highlighted the importance of managing Bumrah's workload. "I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah]," Shastri said. "I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break. Ideally, make him play four. You'll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it's how his body pulls up. He should be given the first opportunity to say, 'Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.' Give him that break," the 62-year-old added.
It is to be noted that Bumrah produced his best bowling performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 before a back injury ruled him out of the fifth Test as well as the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. During the tour down under, Bumrah picked 32 wickets in the five Tests at the best possible average. Seeing his back injury get a bit serious, he also went on to miss the initial stage of IPL 2025 for the Mumbai Indians.
Moreover, the Indian team will hope to feature their Test trio consisting of Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, hoping to give some serious trouble to the Ben Stokes-led side. "I think with Siraj, Jasprit and Mohammed Shami, these three, if they are fully fit, they will give England heaps of problems," Shastri said.
"It's a quality, top-class pace attack when you get these three fit. And what I like about Siraj, I'm glad he was hurt after being put out, not in the side for the Champions Trophy. That's what you want,” he added.
