Aakash Chopra says he is okay if Jasprit Bumrah play selective Test matches, quashes fast bowler’s retirement suggestions

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has backed Jasprit Bumrah to play selective Test matches in order to manage his workload. The cricket analyst says he is okay even if Bumrah plays two out of the four Test matches in a series.

Recently, former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif said Jasprit Bumrah could decide to retire from Test cricket as he could not give his 100% in the Manchester Test. Bumrah returned with figures of 2-112 in 33 overs he bowled, conceding more than 100 runs in a Test innings for the first time in his career.

The gun fast bowler has scalped 14 wickets in three Test matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar series at an average of 26. In fact, it was pre-decided that Bumrah would play only three out of the five Test matches against England.

“It had been decided before the start of the series that Bumrah would play only three Tests, and if he plays three only, and doesn’t even take the risk of playing the fourth one, knowing fully well that there is no cricket for the next one month, it’s true that his participation will remain limited,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“With Jasprit Bumrah, it is going to be pick and choose, which is absolutely fine. I feel he should play until he can play. If there is a four-match series in India, it shouldn’t be that he doesn’t play even one because he can’t play all four. It is not right. The kind of bowler Bumrah is, if he gives me two out of four Tests, I will still be okay with the fact that he is giving two,” he added.

The reputed commentator denied suggestions that Bumrah should retire from Test cricket if he can’t play all Test matches for India.

“We will try to manage his workload because there are a few once-in-a-generation players who you want to manage, who you want to handle properly. Everyone should be handled properly, but he is an extremely special player. So I am not in that camp that says he should retire if he can’t play all five Tests,” he said.