Jasprit Bumrah set to be rested for third India vs New Zealand Test at Wankhede Stadium | Cricket News

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah will not feature in the third Test against New Zealand that begins in Mumbai on Friday.
The Indian Express understands that Bumrah has been ‘rested’ so that he can recover adequately before the Indian team flies to Australia on November 10 for a highly-anticipated five-Test match Border Gavaskar Trophy assignment. Bumrah has flown back home to Ahmedabad on Wednesday night.
It is learnt that the Indian team management initially wanted Bumrah to rest for the second Test in Pune but they had to play him as India had lost the first Test match in Bengaluru.
India are trailing 0-2 in the series, having lost in Bengaluru and Pune which put an end to their streak of wins at home in the longest format since 2012
“He won’t be playing the Mumbai Test and has flown back home. The Indian team management wanted him to take some rest so that he could recover his body. He will now join the Indian team when the team departs for Australia,” a source informed.
Bumrah came with the Indian team to practice on Wednesday afternoon but he didn’t bowl in the nets. Instead, he did his drills and physical activity.
Indian team coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about Bumrah’s barely training on Wednesday. Gambhir had said, “I think he’s (Bumrah) just done his preparations, I think we know how the weather is in Mumbai so obviously he needs to conserve his energy as well. So he’s done his bowling, he’s prepared really well and he’s fine. That’s why he’s a senior player, he knows how much he needs to prepare for the Test match.”
A day before, Indian team batting coach Abhishek Nayar too was asked about Bumrah’s availability. Nayar had said, “He (Bumrah) has not bowled a lot. He has got ample rest. He is very important to us and workload is always in our mind.”
The ace pacer bowled 41 overs in the last two Tests he has played in the series, and also featured in both the matches against Bangladesh. If India has to do well Down Under, with a spot in World Test Championships final at stake, they will need a fresh and firing Bumrah to deliver.
With Bumrah rested, Mohammed Siraj is likely to get the opportunity to play third Test.