“Rest for what? What workload?” - Mohammad Kaif slams team management for resting Jasprit Bumrah in 2nd T20I vs NZ

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Mohammad Kaif has slammed the Indian team management for resting the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah from the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur.

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While Bumrah was part of the first T20I against the BlackCaps in Nagpur, he was rested for the second game, and he was replaced by Harshit Rana in the playing XI to manage his workload concerns. 

For the unversed, Bumrah's workload is being closely monitored since he suffered a back injury during the Test series against Australia Down Under. Moreover, he has not played an ODI since the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. Also, the pace spearhead had a one-month rest after playing the T20I series against South Africa.

"Rest for what? What workload? Did he just come back after playing a lot? He has already come after taking proper rest. No, no, this thing just doesn't make sense to me. If you want to give rest, give rest to Arshdeep Singh. If you want to bring in Harshit Rana, if Axar Patel is injured and you need batting at number eight, then rest Arshdeep and bring in Bumrah. I mean, why are we even comparing here? There is no comparison at all," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Also, Axar Patel missed the second T20I after suffering a blow to the forefinger of his bowling hand in the first T20I, after he was hit while trying to stop a shot from Daryl Mitchell. Axar's absence left India one batter short in the second T20I.

Furthermore, Kaif stated that if Bumrah was rested for the team combination, it was a wrong call by the team management.

"If Bumrah was left out because of a combination, saying that you need batting at number eight, then that is wrong. No power in the world can keep Bumrah out because of team combination. The team will adjust the combination, but Bumrah will play in the XI," he added.

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