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Ajit Agarkar confirms Jasprit Bumrah rested for Australia ODIs to manage workload as Hardik Pandya misses tour due to injury.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya (AP and PTI)
Following the announcement of India’s squad for the tour to Australia for both white-ball formats, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the Australia ODIs to manage his workload.
The team management is also keeping an eye on the workload of other pacers. Bumrah has been rested for the ODI series starting October 19, after a series of demanding assignments: he played three Tests during the five-match Test tour to England, took seven wickets in five matches during the Asia Cup-winning campaign at an average of 19.28, and is currently playing in the home series of two Tests against the West Indies.
In the UK and UAE, Bumrah wasn’t at his peak as a wicket-taker, despite securing two five-wicket hauls in England. He struggled with fitness during the fourth Test in Manchester and missed the final Test at The Oval.
Recently, Bumrah took three wickets in the first Ahmedabad Test, but it is uncertain if he will play the series decider starting October 10. Bumrah is set to return during the T20I series beginning on October 29.
Speaking during the team announcement, Agarkar mentioned, “We have already rested him for the one-day games. We will manage his workload whenever possible. Since the Manchester Test, there was about a month and a half break. There is always a plan to give him a break when needed.”
“He is crucial for the team, but we also need to consider the team’s interests. Bumrah is always available when required. We will manage the workload of all seamers, including Mohammed Siraj, to minimise the risk of injury,” he added.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya is also absent from the squad due to an injury sustained just before the Asia Cup title clash against Pakistan, which kept him from playing in the final.
Agarkar stated that Pandya would not be fit for the tour Down Under, and further timelines would be determined once he starts rehab at the COE (Centre of Excellence). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming series against Australia, starting October 19, featuring three ODIs and five T20Is.
“We’ll know, in due course, how long it’s going to be at this point, in a week’s time, he’s supposed to be there at the CUE. And once he starts his rehab, we’ll probably get better timelines. But for Australia, it’s definitely not available,” he said.
So, Who Is In India Team For Tour Of Australia?
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 final, but Shubman Gill will lead the ODI squad, with Shreyas Iyer as his deputy. KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel are the wicketkeepers in the squad.
The all-rounders include Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not included due to his injury during the Asia Cup 2025. In the bowling department, the Senior Men’s Selection Committee has included Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
The T20I squad for the Australia series is largely unchanged from the Asia Cup 2025 squad, with the addition of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
(With inputs from ANI)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
October 04, 2025, 16:53 IST
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