Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar feels India can give Jasprit Bumrah a break for the upcoming Bangladesh clash in the ODI World Cup 2023 edition, on Thursday (Oct 19) at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Gavaskar has suggested the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian thinktank to bring in Mohammed Shami in place of Bumrah.

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‘Just a couple of days gap between Bangladesh and New Zealand face-off’

In an interaction with India Today, Gavaskar said, “I think Shami is someone who they have to bring into the team, because the next match in Dharamsala, in conditions which will assist a fast bowler. You need Jasprit Bumrah to be 100 percent there. Also, there is a just a couple of days gap between the game against Bangladesh in Pune and New Zealand in Dharamsala. There is going to be a change in weather also. Ideally, I think Jasprit Bumrah be given a bit of break and then maybe Shami comes in.”

The Little Master further added, “You really are not losing anything with Shami coming back in the team. Siraj had a bit of a breather against the Australians in the 3-match series before the World Cup. Shami coming in against Bangladesh is something that the think tank might think of.”

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So far, Bumrah has been in top form in the ongoing World Cup at home. In the three games, he has churned out eight wickets and was adjudged the Player-of-the-Match for his 2 for 19 versus Pakistan. Shami, on the other hand, has not got a game and will be desperate to be included in the final XI. 

Ahead of the India-Bangladesh tie, India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey lavished huge praise on Bumrah in the pre-match presser and said, “You have seen him in the last three games that he has played, what he brings to the table, he is a world class bowler. He gives you that breakthrough that you require in the power plays. He’s well adapted to bowl in the middle overs and he’s a top gun dead bowler.” 

Mhambrey hinted that India are likely to go unchanged in the game versus the Bangla Tigers.

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