‘That Is Lot Of Bowling…’: Jasprit Bumrah Likely To Sit Out SA ODIs As Workload Peaks | Cricket News

Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets in South Africa’s first innings (Picture credit: AP)

Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has said that it is highly unlikely that ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will play the three-match ODI series against South Africa after two Tests against the same opponent, especially with India being on the field for two entire days during the second Test, as South Africa kept scoring runs.

India’s stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant turned to Bumrah on Day 2, recalling him into the attack as South Africa’s total surged past 400 and wickets for the other bowlers remained hard to come by.

India’s team for the South Africa series is all set to be announced Sunday evening, with KL Rahul tipped to lead the team in Shubman Gill’s absence after the latter’s neck injury in the first Test.

Bumrah might skip the ODI series and return for the five-match T20I series to stay sharp for the shortest format ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Given this, it is no surprise that Karthik also expects him to miss the ODIs.

“I don’t think he will play the ODI series after a Test like this. In the T20I series, he will. But for the ODI series, I don’t think he will. He will put his hands up and say, Thank you. That is a lot of bowling for one man,” Karthik said while commentating.

Notably, Bumrah had also missed the three ODIs against Australia earlier, returning only for the T20I series.

In South Africa’s first innings of the Guwahati Test, Kuldeep Yadav (4/115) led India’s wicket-taking, while Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja each chipped in with two wickets, enduring long spells to break through a resilient batting line-up over the past two days.

Star all-rounder Washington Sundar remained wicketless and so did Nitish Reddy, who bowled only six out of 151.1 overs, which India had to bowl.