India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will not be playing in all the five Tests against England and is 'happy' to just be a part of the Test squad, revealed chief selector Ajit Agarkar in the recently-concluded press conference.
This is nothing short of a massive setback for the Men in Blue who are set to embark on a highly important five-match assignment against England which will commence from June 20. This series will also mark the beginning of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Jasprit Bumrah was outstanding in the Test series against Australia
The previous Test series that Bumrah played was against Australia and he ended up racking a total of 32 wickets in just five Tests. However, the final Test in Sydney saw him sustain a back injury and he had to be taken to the hospital for scans. He wasn't able to bowl in Australia's second innings which proved to be quite costly for the Men in Blue as their opponents went on to easily chase down the 162-run target.
Agarkar revealed that Bumrah's participation in the series will depend on how the pacer manages his workload. The head of selection committee further stated that the 31-year-old will be an asset for the team even if he is fit for 3-4 Tests.
"Don't think he'll be available for all five Tests. Whether it's four or three, we'll see based on how the series goes and his workload is. Even if he's fit for 3-4 Tests, he'll be an asset for us. Just happy he's part of the squad," Agarkar said at the press-conference.
The former India cricketer also revealed why Bumrah wasn't considered for the role of vice-captain for England Tests despite the fact that he was Rohit Sharma's deputy for three Tests against Australia and lead the team in the two remaining Tests due to the former's absence.
"More important to us a player. Once you're managing people, there's a lot that takes out of you. We've had a chat with him, he's okay with it. He knows where his body's at. KL not really, he's captained a while back, he's a quality player and hope he has a big series. With Booms, it was more about his workload management," Agarkar stated.
Bumrah has so far played a total of 45 Tests for India, picking up 205 wickets. He has also taken 13 five-wicket hauls and will be looking to add more to his tally when he takes the field against England next month.