Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has emphasized the importance of managing Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness as India prepares for its upcoming Test series in Australia. Reflecting on historical perspectives, Chappell drew parallels with legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who once advocated for a balance between workload and match readiness.
Ian Chappell said
Chappell recalled a 1972 Ashes tour when Lillee expressed his disdain for excessive rest, stating, “Like a batsman, I need to be in form. When I take a five-wicket haul, you can talk about putting me in cotton wool.” This sentiment highlights the need for Bumrah to not only remain fit but also maintain his form to effectively lead India’s pace attack.
“A critical part of India’s build-up to the Australian tour will be ensuring Bumrah is in form but remains fit to play the bulk of the five Tests. The difficulty of balancing this task was summed up perfectly by Australian pace hero Dennis Lillee on the 1972 tour of the UK.”
Bumrah, who has been plagued by injuries since his debut in 2016, missed nearly a year due to a back injury, returning to action in August 2023. His track record in Australia is impressive, with 21 wickets across four matches during the 2018-19 tour and 11 in three fixtures in 2020-21. However, Chappell warns that ensuring Bumrah’s fitness will be crucial for India’s success in the five-match series.
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Chappell also advocated for the inclusion of a left-arm pacer to enhance the bowling variety, highlighting the importance of having a well-rounded attack. He expressed hope for the return of Mohammed Shami, noting that the spin department is in good hands with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, alongside Kuldeep Yadav’s potential contributions on Australian pitches.
“It would be ideal if the mercurial Mohammed Shami is fit for Australia but the presence of a good left-arm paceman would also improve India’s variety in attack. The spin bowling is in good hands with Jadeja and Ashwin. Nevertheless I wouldn’t discount the importance of Kuldeep Yadav on some Australian surfaces.”
Looking at the batting lineup, Chappell stressed the need for experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to mentor younger talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, who needs to establish his form in challenging conditions.
“Of the young batters Yashasvi Jaiswal looks very talented but he needs to show good form in Australia. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should act as guiding lights for the younger batters on tour. The batting needs to be good in Australia as India showed with their series wins on the last two visits.”
The first Test is set to commence on November 22 in Perth, and as India gears up for this high-stakes series, Bumrah’s performance and fitness will be under close scrutiny.
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