His controversial selection for a Cape Town Test five years ago changed Indian cricket history. Now, Jasprit Bumrah’s likely absence from a crucial series against Australia gives India the chance to click the refresh button and unearth new stars.
When India announced their XI for the Newlands Test in South Africa five years ago, there were gasps of shock in the press box, and considerable outrage on social media. The axing of Ajinkya Rahane, then vice-captain, and the inclusion of Rohit Sharma in his place triggered much of the adverse reaction. But there were also derisory comments about the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, “white-ball specialist”, as the third seamer. On Twitter, that great storehouse of wisdom, there were references to a ‘mad-hoc selection’.
Luckily for Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, the captain-coach duo at the time, knew a bit more about the game than those frothing at the mouth. Though India would lose the Test and the series, Bumrah has since become as integral to Indian success in Test whites as he is in coloured clothes. Historic Test victories in Australia and England have had the Bumrah stamp on them, and he has shown in this half-decade that there’s so much more to his bowling than the searing yorkers that first caught the eye in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
But now, as India jostle to reach the World Test Championship final for the second straight time, they will likely be without his services for a series against Australia that they simply cannot afford to lose. Barring a complete meltdown in India, Australia’s place in the final is secure, but both South Africa and Sri Lanka are lurking to snatch the other spot in case India slip up.
The back injury that ruled Bumrah out of the T20 World Cup in 2022 has been acting up again, and with a 50-over World Cup on home soil looming on the horizon, chances are that he won’t be risked against Australia. A setback at this stage could mean as much as a year out, and despite what’s at stake, that’s not a risk Indian cricket can afford to take.
A cursory look at the numbers will tell you just how indispensable Bumrah has become for India. Since January 2018, when he made his Test debut, only R Ashwin has bowled more overs and taken more wickets in the longest format. Away from home, however, Bumrah has been both consolidator and destroyer. His tally of 114 Test wickets away from home is 26 more than Mohammed Shami, with Ishant Sharma a further 30 behind. Apart from New Zealand, where he has played just two matches, Bumrah has at least a five-wicket haul in every country that he’s played in.
Across formats, it’s not even close. Bumrah leads the way for India with 223 wickets (Shami has 198), and has bowled 1511 overs. Apart from Shami (1282 overs), no other Indian pacer has bowled even 700 overs across formats. These numbers may also explain why both men appeared to run out of gas as England breezed past a stiff target of 378 in the rescheduled fifth Test last July.
Instead of bemoaning Bumrah’s absence, India must see this as an opportunity. Much like Bumrah was introduced into the fray five years ago, the Australia series is a chance to test out the next generation. Mohammed Siraj has shown enough over the past couple of seasons to share the new ball with Shami, and if he feels his body can handle it, Hardik Pandya would be an interesting left-field selection to play his first Test in more than four years.
But if India really want to rattle some cages in Bumrah’s absence, the selectors could do worse than take a look at Shivam Mavi. Like Bumrah five years ago, few associate the one-time Under-19 star with red-ball cricket. But in 11 first-class matches spread across four years, Mavi has taken 47 wickets at an outstanding average of 19.44. He may not be able to give you the marathon spells Bumrah is famed for, but could well be a revelation if used in short, sharp bursts.
With Shami showing signs of wear and tear as well, India’s Test team needs a refresh. Jaidev Unadkat is the steady option, but can you honestly see Australian batters who have faced Mitchell Starc in the nets being afraid of him? Mavi isn’t as frighteningly quick as Umran Malik, but for now, he has the greater first-class pedigree to be used as a shock weapon.
Bumrah in Cape Town five years ago was a brave call that changed Indian cricket history. He more than played his part in two epochal wins on Australian soil. Now, the selectors need to be equally courageous, and blood new heroes.