‘Give Bumrah A Year Off’: Former India Pacer Urges Long Break, Backs Shami And Bhuvneshwar Return

Former India cricketer Karsan Ghavri has urged the team management to give Jasprit Bumrah an extended break from international cricket, saying the star fast bowler should prioritise full recovery over frequent comebacks. Ghavri also called for the return of experienced pacers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to ease the burden on India’s pace attack.

His remarks come amid fresh concerns over Bumrah’s fitness after the pacer was ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series due to an impact injury. He was also rested for the third and final ODI against England last month.

Ghavri calls for complete recovery

Speaking to Mid-Day, the former India pacer said Bumrah should stay away from competitive cricket for five to six months, or even a year, if required, to return fully fit.

According to Ghavri, repeatedly selecting Bumrah when he is not at 100 per cent fitness has only increased the risk of recurring injuries.

“Bumrah should take a break for five to six months or even a year and get back to 100 per cent fitness. The issue is that he goes into tournaments even if he’s half-fit and then, due to workload management, halfway through, there’s a breakdown. This is unnecessary,” Ghavri said.

He added that selectors should only include Bumrah if he is capable of completing an entire tournament without workload concerns.

Backs Shami and Bhuvneshwar for comeback

Ghavri also urged the selectors to bring back Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, pointing to their consistent performances and fitness in recent IPL seasons.

He said both bowlers still have plenty to offer the national side and could help reduce the workload on India’s frontline pacers.

“Shami and Bhuvi have been playing consistently in the IPL without injuries and should return to the national set-up. Selectors should consider them,” he said.

The former cricketer noted that while injuries are common among fast bowlers, Bumrah has struggled to remain available for entire series over the past few years.

Suggests Bumrah focuses on Test cricket

Ghavri believes Bumrah should be used primarily in Test cricket instead of playing across all formats.

He suggested that Bhuvneshwar Kumar could strengthen India’s T20I attack, while Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj should be rotated in Tests to ensure Bumrah is not overburdened.

According to Ghavri, a balanced pace rotation would help India manage Bumrah’s workload more effectively while preserving his long-term fitness.