Former India head coach Ravi Shastri does not want ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to play in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 if he is not fully fit.
Citing Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi who suffered another setback just because Pakistan rushed him for the T20 World Cup 2022, Shastri said, 'He is such an important cricketer. you think should we rush him for the World Cup. Then you do that and you lose him for 4 months after that. Much like Shaheen Afridi'
With Mohd Shami & Mohd Siraj as pacers and Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel taking care of the spin department, Shastri pointed out that there is enough experience and depth in India's bowling department and that there is absolutely no need to bring Bumrah back before he fully recovers.
'Thin line you draw about being greedy and wanting to play and the individual has to think about himself. sometimes you want to go back to the field and it can be a costly error', he added.
Bumrah who has been struggling with his lower back has been out since the Asia Cup 2022. He has missed the Indian Premier League, T20 World Cup, and World Test Championship final.