Home
After India's second consecutive T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors and the team management have shifted focus to the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. The series defeat at home against defending champions South Africa has hurt India's chances to reach their third WTC final. India have three Test series ahead of them which are part of the current WTC cycle. In order to revive India's chances, fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is going to be the key. The selectors and the team management understand it and are chalking out the plan to use Bumrah's services judiciously to avoid any injury, even if he misses a few ODI series leading up to ODI World Cup 2027.
India are to play a one-off Test against Afghanistan, days after the IPL 2026 final. The Test is not part of the current WTC final. Bumrah is highly likely to be rested for the series. India’s next Test series is on Sri Lankan soil in August. In the meantime, India are to tour United Kingdom for a T20I series against Ireland, followed by a white-ball series against England. It will be followed by a T20I series on Zimbabwe soil. Also, before the UK tour, India will play a three-ODI series against Afghanistan as well. Selectors are set to pick and choose series where Bumrah will play or get much-needed rest to be fit for red-ball action.
“The attempt is to keep Bumrah fit enough to play all Tests. He is expected to play the four Tests in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The challenge will be to keep him fresh for the five Tests at home against Australia. The selectors won’t mind resting him for some ODI series. He played T20 cricket after a gap of two years in the Asia Cup last Sept and still delivered,” BCCI sources told TOI.
ALSO READ: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets crucial advice from Allan Border, says 'He must now learn how to...'
Jam-packed schedule after Sri Lanka tour too
After the Sri Lanka series, India will play a white-ball series at home against West Indies before heading to New Zealand for a two-Test series. In December, India will host Sri Lanka for a white-ball series as well. Then Zimbabwe will tour India for an ODI series as well. The selectors may opt to rest Bumrah for Zimbabwe series ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 which begins on January 21. The India-Australia five-Test series concludes on March 3. The team would be hoping that Bumrah plays the entire Test series, unlike the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy where he played three Tests.
A few weeks after Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 will start. If India qualify for the final, Bumrah is set to miss any series which leads up to it after the IPL 2027.
Earlier, skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir had raised concerns about the hectic schedule. There was little turnaround time between the Australia white-ball tour and the South Africa Test series last year. Gill wants more preparation time before a Test series which will help players to transition well between formats.
While Bumrah may be rested, it is likely that Test specialist will don the white jersey soon against Afghanistan after the IPL 2026’s conclusion. Since India’s last Test series was against South Africa in 2026, it can help batters get some game time against the red ball before touring Sri Lanka.
“The idea is to get serious about Tests. The Afghanistan Test may be outside the WTC cycle but there’s nothing like match practice. The top players will be assessed and a call on them will be taken accordingly,” sources said.
A call on selection is likely to be taken once the playoffs picture is clear.
ADVERTISEMENT
