Let’s be real—when Jasprit Bumrah is in full rhythm, he’s not just a bowler, he’s a cheat code. The man has rescued India in crunch moments, rattled batting line-ups across formats, and has pretty much become the heartbeat of this team’s bowling attack. But here’s the thing: even superheroes need a break. With India already into the Super 4 of the Asia Cup 2025 and a much-anticipated showdown against Pakistan looming just two days after the Oman clash, the big question is—should Bumrah really be playing this “dead rubber” group game?
Saving Energy for the Real Battle
Oman may be plucky, but the reality is that the match isn’t do-or-die for India. The real test begins on September 21, when India faces their biggest rivals—Pakistan—in a high-pressure Super 4 encounter. Bumrah has already had a decent workload coming off the England tour and two solid group games, which means his rhythm is intact. The turnaround between the Oman clash and the Pakistan game is just a single day, and playing back-to-back matches could pile on unnecessary fatigue.
Think about this: Is it better to witness Bumrah coming in fresh to Babar Azam and Rizwan or Bumrah, who has bowled four overs against an associate team and will be semi-tired? It’s common sense. In a tournament such as this, you cannot win by sprinting in every game; you win by utilizing your resources for the knockouts.
This Journey Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
The Asia Cup might be intense, but it’s just one pit stop on India’s much longer road toward the 2026 T20 World Cup. In the next few months, there’s a home series, an Australian tour, and plenty more international cricket lined up. Bumrah is going to be a central figure in all of those assignments. That makes managing his workload essential.
The downside of being so dependent on India’s strike bowlers has shown itself throughout history: injuries pop up at the worst time. Bumrah, in fact, has two separate histories of missing games for back injuries and stress-related injuries. However, India has the rare position to manage him sensibly. Sitting in a preliminarily ‘low-stakes’ game against Oman would have no impact on his rhythm and may even leave him more finely-tuned up as the battles begin.
Keeping the Bench Warm and Ready
Another underrated reason to rest Bumrah is to give India’s bench strength a chance to shine. Players like Arshdeep Singh are more than capable of stepping in, and games like this are perfect opportunities for them to get valuable match practice in a tournament setting. These aren’t just “filler” overs—they’re important chances to test out combinations and see who can deliver when called upon.
To have a list of match-ready bowlers for 2026, India needs to give everyone game time. Endless sitting does not help anybody. Whether it’s Arshdeep or another seamer who plays against Oman, they stay fresh and begin to build their confidence.
FAQs
- Why should India rest Jasprit Bumrah against Oman?
Because the match is a dead rubber, India needs him fresh for the Pakistan clash.
- Would resting Bumrah affect India’s chances of beating Oman?
Not really, since India has quality backup options like Arshdeep Singh to step in.
- Isn’t playing more matches good for Bumrah’s rhythm?
He has already bowled enough overs this tournament, so missing one game won’t hurt his rhythm.
