Ravi Shastri, Rahul Dravid’s management would’ve broken Jasprit Bumrah! Ravichandran Ashwin drops bomb

The India National Cricket Team’s bold decision to rest star pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval has raised many eyebrows, and now Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his shock at the call.

The ongoing final Test is a must-win match for India in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but the India National Cricket Team management stuck to their pre-series plan that Jasprit Bumrah would only feature in three out of the five tests on the England tour.

Ravichandran Ashwin surprised as Jasprit Bumrah benched for Test series decider at The Oval

The pace spearhead played in the first, third, and fourth matches, and now he was rested for the ongoing fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval. Well, Ravichandran Ashwin, who has seen the ups and downs of the team from close quarters, was really impressed by the team’s commitment to long-term thinking.

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The former Indian off-spinner said that he was “pleasantly surprised” that the team management decided to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload carefully instead of pushing him to play through the grind. Ashwin targeted the past team management by saying Bumrah would not have gotten that authority in the past if the match had been must-win for the team in England.

Notably, Bumrah finished the England tour with 14 wickets in three Tests.

I am very happy that Jasprit Bumrah is prioritizing his body: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin said on YouTube, “I am pleasantly surprised because if this were the Indian team of the past, they would have persuaded Bumrah to play the final Test. Even now, the team management might have looked at it, but from Bumrah's perspective, this is a sound decision. He had already decided that he was going to play only three tests, and he stuck to that.”

The former Indian all-rounder also recalled how Jasprit Bumrah’s back injury had once ruled him out of action for nearly two years. He noted that rushing the bowler back again in a high-pressure Test could’ve been a risky gamble, so he was happy that the pacer is prioritizing his body now.

Ashwin further noted, “His back issue is not a normal one. It has kept him out of the game for almost two years. He is a valuable asset to the Indian team. So, the decision is the right one, and I am pleasantly surprised. I am very happy that Bumrah is prioritizing his body because in the long run, he will be very useful.”

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Ravichandran Ashwin explains Kuldeep Yadav’s snub from the 5th Test

Furthermore, the former off-spinner explained why Kuldeep Yadav was not picked for the ongoing final Test. He said that the wrist-spinner would only play the role of a fourth seamer in these conditions, so India went with their stronger pace attack.

Ashwin signed off by saying, “There is no need to add pressure on Kuldeep's shoulder. People should understand that Kuldeep is going to play the role of the fourth seamer. He is not going to be your strike bowler. In these conditions, the fast bowlers will be your strike bowlers.”

However, Kuldeep didn’t get a single match on the England tour.