Jasprit Bumrah should be rested for the third Test match between India and New Zealand, which begins on Friday, November 1, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, according to former cricketer Dinesh Karthik. With decisive wins in Bengaluru and Pune, the Kiwis are already ahead 2-0 in the three-match series.
With the series against Bangladesh, India started a run of ten Test matches. Bumrah participated in two Test matches against the Blackcaps and two against the Bangla Tigers. A demanding five-match Test tour of Australia awaits Rohit Sharma and company following the third Test match between India and New Zealand. It is anticipated that Bumrah would be crucial in the match against the Pat Cummins-led team.
In the third Test match against the Kiwis, Karthik recommended that Mohammed Siraj be added back into the starting lineup in place of Jasprit Bumrah.
“There is no question that Jasprit Bumrah has to take a break. You will see Mohammed Siraj enter at that point. Unless someone has a niggle, I can’t think of anything else that could change. I don’t understand why the bowlers or batsmen who participated in this game shouldn’t be given a chance,” Karthik said.
With just three wickets from two games at an average of 42.33, Bumrah hasn’t been playing at his best in the series against New Zealand. Mohammed Siraj participated in the first Test match, but Akash Deep took his place for the second.
The disappointment of the defeat and the loss are still very much present: Dinesh Karthik
The former batsman-wicketkeeper for India acknowledged that he found it difficult to accept India’s series loss against New Zealand.
“The disappointment of the loss and the loss itself are still very much on my thoughts. I’m having trouble figuring out what the XI will be. To be honest, the notification is too brief. However, if I had to make a snap decision, I would tell Bumrah to rest and bring Siraj back,” Karthik continued.
Also Read: Shubman Gill clearly does not have the feel for spinners: Sanjay Manjrekar
Despite winning the series, New Zealand will play with the same vigour in the third Test since crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points remain on the line. India continues to lead the WTC rankings, but after losing to Tom Latham’s team back-to-back, their percentage points have suffered.