Ravi Shastri urges limited use of Jasprit Bumrah across formats until 2027 ODI World Cup

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri told Indian media on Sunday that Jasprit Bumrah should not play all three formats until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Bumrah has been recalled to India's Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against New Zealand but was left out of the five ODIs and five T20Is scheduled before the red-ball fixtures.

The 32-year-old has faced recurring back problems and underwent surgery in 2023. He was ruled out of a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in August because of a left knee injury. He returned to T20 action at the Asian Games, where he helped India secure the gold medal.

"I don't think he should play all three formats till the ODI World Cup," Shastri told Indian media on Sunday. "He should play Test cricket and should play sporadically between one-day internationals and T20 cricket. He also shouldn't be playing the whole lot. "I would rather preserve him for the Test matches. That's very important. He becomes a key member of that Indian side. Then he should be used sparingly in the other formats."

Shastri urged the team management to manage Bumrah's workload carefully ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, suggesting the paceman prioritise Test cricket while being used sparingly in limited-overs formats. He warned against using India's premier fast bowler across all three formats as preparations for the global tournament continue.

Following the New Zealand tour, India are scheduled to host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in limited-overs series before taking on Australia in a five-Test series that concludes in February. The sequence of assignments will require team management to weigh the demands of red-ball cricket against preparations for the 50-over World Cup.

Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, called for a selective approach rather than an all-format commitment and said preserving the pacer could prove vital as the team builds towards the 2027 World Cup. He emphasised keeping Bumrah involved in India's longest format while limiting his appearances in ODIs and T20Is.

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21; whether India adopts Shastri's suggested workload plan will depend on its broader plans and Bumrah's fitness.