After an intense T20I and Test series, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the three-match ODI series against Australia and the following tour of New Zealand.
Mohammed Siraj has been named as his replacement for the ODI series, while Siddarth Kaul has been added in the squad for the T20Is against New Zealand, the BCCI announced on Tuesday, 8 January.
This comes after Bumrah bowled 157.1 overs during the four-match Test series in Australia – the most for any bowler on either side, and at least 20 overs more than any other Indian bowler.
With 21 scalps, he was the joint-leading wicket-taker alongside Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon in India’s first-ever Test series win Down Under.
“Keeping in mind the work load of the bowler, it was best felt to give him adequate rest ahead of the home series against Australia. Mohammed Siraj will replace Bumrah in the squad for the Australia and New Zealand tour,” said the BCCI in a statement.
India’s ODI Squad for Australia and NZ
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami.
Bumrah, who made his Test debut just 12 months ago, has become India's go to pacer in all three formats.
The attack comprising Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma has been hailed as India's best ever.
In fact, Ishant, Bumrah and Shami finished 2018 with 134 away wickets (Bumrah 48, Ishant 40 and Shami 46), eclipsing the 34-year-old record that stood in the name of the fearsome West Indies trio of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner (130 wickets in away tours in 1984).
The decision to rest him comes after captain Virat Kohli also emphasised on managing the workload of the pacers following India's maiden Test series win in Australia on Monday.
"It's important to take care of these guys especially – manage workloads, that's going to be our priority going forward. But even more so, finding three more guys who can bowl as fast as and as relentless as these guys," said Kohli.
India play three ODIs against Australia starting in Sydney on Saturday before travelling to New Zealand for a five-match ODI and three-match T20I assignment starting 23 January.
(With inputs from PTI)
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