Australia’s Strategy to Counter Jasprit Bumrah in the Border-Gavaskar Test Series

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has revealed Australia’s "clever" strategy to counter India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series. According to Doull, Australia has carefully planned the scheduling to tire out Bumrah, making him a less effective threat as the series progresses.

Doull explained that the series will start with the challenging conditions of Perth, known for its heat and fast pitch, followed by the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, which also places a heavy workload on bowlers. This combination is expected to fatigue Bumrah, who will be required to bowl a lot of overs in these grueling conditions. Doull suggests that Australia’s goal is to "cook" Bumrah by pushing him hard in the first two or three Tests, eventually forcing India to rest him or rotate him for the later matches.

He added that the scheduling is particularly strategic, as the series rarely begins in Perth, making it an unconventional challenge for India’s key bowler. Doull also pointed out that the final Test matches in Brisbane and Sydney are also expected to offer favorable conditions for seamers, adding to the physical toll on Bumrah.

Meanwhile, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the potential absence of India’s captain Rohit Sharma for the first Test, suggesting that if Rohit is unavailable due to personal reasons, Jasprit Bumrah should be appointed as the captain for the entire tour. Gavaskar believes that continuity in leadership would be crucial, and if Rohit misses the first two Tests, Bumrah should lead the team for the duration of the series.