'Should not waste a talent' like Jasprit Bumrah in Tests in India, says former fast bowler Chetan Sharma

There is no doubt that Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world. He has been the go-to bowler for skipper Virat Kohli and has been pivotal in India's success in all three formats.

After the World Cup 2019, Bumrah did get a much-needed breather as he was rested only for the T20 matches in the Caribbean island and was picked for the Test series. Now back in India he is in the Test squad against South Africa.

However, according to a former fast bowler, Bumrah's talent should not be wasted playing on Indian soil.

Chetan Sharma believes the Indian team management should rest Bumrah from home Test matches.

“I think he should be rested (from Tests in India). We should not waste a talent like him. There’s a reason why he’s the best bowler in the world now, we shouldn’t test him in these conditions at all,” Sharma told Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat.

“World Test Championship is going on and Bumrah is very important for India’s plans. There’s no need to prove it to the world that Bumrah can take wickets on Indian pitches. Ultimately we need to win and earn points,” Sharma added.

Since making his debut in South Africa, Bumrah has missed only 3 Test matches due to injury. Sharma has urged the Indian selectors not to push Bumrah too much.

“The team management should asses the conditions, play spinners and rest Bumrah. Ultimately India need to win Test matches and on Indian tracks, it doesn’t matter whether Ashwin takes wickets or Kuldeep or Bumrah,” Sharma told Hindustan Times.

He also pointed out that India's bowling unit is strong enough to pick 20 wickets in the absence of Bumrah.

“Times have changed, gone are the days when we used to depend only on Kapil Dev as the lone wicket-taking fast bowler. Now we have one of the best bowling line-ups in the world. We have Bhuvneshwar, Shami, Ishant, Navdeep is also there, so give them chances, why put pressure only on Bumrah alone? Bumrah should be called only when it’s absolutely necessary.”

Sharma, who has represented India in 23 Tests and 65 ODIs, however, is confident about Bumrah’s success on Indian tracks but is concerned about the bowler suffering any injury. “He has the talent to pick wickets on every track but my only concern is, he shouldn’t pick up an injury playing on lifeless tracks,” Sharma concluded according to Hindustan Times.