In a significant move focused on player preservation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has granted star pacer Jasprit Bumrah an exemption from participating in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. This decision comes even as the board has instructed all other Indian players, including senior figures like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, to play a minimum of two matches in the domestic 50-over tournament.
Prioritizing Fitness Over Domestic Duty
The primary reason behind this special consideration is a clear and concerted effort to manage the fast bowler's workload. Jasprit Bumrah, who has a history of back issues and underwent surgery in New Zealand in 2023, is being carefully handled by the team management. With a dense calendar of international cricket on the horizon, rest has been deemed more critical than domestic game time for the 32-year-old.
Confirming the development, Anil Patel, secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association, stated from Ahmedabad that "Bumrah will not feature in VHT as he is taking rest as per the BCCI guidelines." Gujarat will begin their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign without their premier fast bowler.
A Packed Schedule Ahead
The decision is strategically timed. India's white-ball calendar is exceptionally busy, starting with a home series against New Zealand from January 11. This includes three ODIs followed by five T20 Internationals commencing January 21. The marquee event, the T20 World Cup 2024, kicks off for India on February 7 against the USA at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
Bumrah has been in constant action for months, featuring in:
- The Asia Cup (T20 format)
- All four home Tests against West Indies and South Africa
- A five-match T20I series in Australia
- The recent five-match home T20I series against South Africa
During this period, he was already selectively rested for ODI series against Australia and South Africa. In the just-concluded T20Is against South Africa, Bumrah picked up four wickets in three matches at an average of 19.75, maintaining an economy rate of 7.18.
Other Stars Set for Domestic Action
While Bumrah rests, Gujarat will still have international representation. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who missed the last two T20Is against South Africa due to viral fever, is set to play in the tournament. Gujarat's league matches will be held in Bengaluru.
Furthermore, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will also be in action, turning out for Saurashtra in their Vijay Hazare Trophy fixtures on January 6 and 8. This underscores the BCCI's directive for other key players to gain match practice in the domestic arena, making Bumrah's exclusion a notable exception based solely on fitness management.
The move highlights the increasing emphasis on sports science and personalized workload management in modern cricket, especially for fast bowlers returning from serious injuries. The BCCI's priority is clearly to ensure Jasprit Bumrah is fresh, fit, and firing for the crucial global tournament in February.
