Bengaluru: Cricketers Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur with others at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak) (PTI08_30_2025_000222A) Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun feels a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah should skip the Indian Premier League (IPL) if India is playing a five-match Test series. At the same time, he says the bowler should be adequately compensated by the BCCI.Citing the example of Cricket Australia, Arun noted how they don’t allow premier bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to participate in the IPL or other leagues if an Ashes series is scheduled, because Test cricket is their top priority and they need their best cricketers fit and ready to perform.“Definitely, this would help. Especially when you want to preserve bowlers,” Arun said in conversation with K. Shriniwas Rao, Head of Content (Sports), Times Internet, on the latest episode of Bombay Sport Exchange.“Like, it’s okay for a batter or a spinner to play all formats. But for a fast bowler, yes — playing too much cricket doesn’t give enough time to work on the physical front.“So yes, this definitely can be looked into. People like Bumrah or any other bowler we feel is very important for a particular series can be rested, and they can also be adequately compensated.
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Should Jasprit Bumrah skip IPL if India is playing a Test series?
“If he’s properly compensated and then told by the BCCI, because he’s on contract, that we want you to work on this particular aspect of your game, I think that’s fair enough.”When asked about newer players who have impressed him, Arun said: “Siraj has been there for a while. He has been exceptional.”“He is captain’s delight. Every time you give him the ball, he runs in and gives 100%. That is what I expect from a fast bowler. He’s got fantastic energy.“Looking at this five-Test series, Siraj has maintained the same intensity in the fifth Test as in the first. He needs to be preserved and given sufficient rest before the next series so he can recover fully physically before playing again.”
