Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of India's upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15, due to a knee injury. His absence has sparked calls for the return of veteran fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the national side.
Ghavri's plea for senior bowlers
Ghavri argues that overreliance on Bumrah creates undue pressure on the star pacer and risks further injury.
Ghavri points to recent performances by Shami and Bhuvneshwar as proof of their readiness. Shami took 37 wickets in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal last season, while Bhuvneshwar contributed 28 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during their IPL 2026 title-winning campaign.
Call for rest and rotation
Ghavri suggested that Bumrah should take an extended break—possibly as long as five to six months or even a full year—to fully recover from his current injury and reach 100 percent fitness. He criticized the pattern of Bumrah playing tournaments while only partially fit, resulting in recurring setbacks.
Ghavri urged the team management to rotate bowlers more effectively to reduce Bumrah's workload. He recommends using Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Bhuvneshwar to share the burden, especially in Tests. He feels Bumrah's current workload across all formats is unsustainable in the long term.
IPL and T20I roles highlighted
Ghavri also emphasized the importance of assigning roles based on players' strengths. He argued that Bhuvneshwar, who has performed exceptionally well in the IPL, should be given a chance in T20 internationals. Meanwhile, Shami and Siraj could be rotated in Test matches to ease Bumrah's responsibilities.
By rotating senior bowlers across formats, Ghavri believes the team can maintain fitness levels, reduce the pressure on Bumrah, and ensure better results. His suggestions reflect a strategic approach to workload management and long-term planning for India's pace attack.