Asia Cup 2025: ‘It’s quite strenuous’ - India's assistant coach praises Bumrah for running the hard yards ahead of IND vs BAN

The Indian team management has expressed satisfaction with Jasprit Bumrah’s performances, noting the exceptionally demanding role he has been assigned in the UAE. Although the right-arm pacer has taken only three wickets in three Asia Cup 2025 matches, he has maintained an economy rate of 8.36 across his three outings in the continental competition thus far.

In each of those games, Bumrah has been tasked with delivering three overs during the powerplay and returning for his fourth in the death overs. Notably, prior to India’s tournament opener against the UAE, the last time he bowled three of the first six overs in a T20I was back in 2019.

"He's doing a very tough task. You don't see many bowlers in this format bowling all three overs in the powerplay. So it's quite strenuous as well. But we feel it's the right amount of work going into the Test match [against West Indies] and obviously the importance of this competition as well,” said Ryan ten Doeschate on the eve of the Super Four game against Bangladesh as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Bumrah claimed 1 for 19 against the UAE and followed it up with 2 for 28 in India’s group-stage clash against Pakistan. However, in the Super Four encounter against their arch-rivals, the 31-year-old went wicketless and conceded 45 runs.

"It wasn't his most polished performance against Pakistan the other night. But we also understand that he's doing an exceptionally tough job to bowl the first three overs, the two [fielders] out, and the last over and the second last over where guys are going as well. There's going to be days where he doesn't get wickets and he's going to go for runs. But in terms of how we set up the team, obviously with two seamers and going spin-heavy, we feel at the moment that's the best job,” the former Dutch cricketer said.

The Ahmedabad-born pacer has bowled a total of 11 overs in the Asia Cup so far and was rested for India’s final group-stage match against Oman. He is expected to bowl an additional 12 overs if India advance to the final. Team management indicated that he is unlikely to be rested for any further matches in the tournament.

"It's very unlikely that you [India] go into the last game knowing you've qualified. So I'd say it's unlikely that he'll get a rest. Also bearing in mind we have a Test match starting [next] Thursday. So it's actually quite good preparation in terms of workload management … So if we have the luxury to have that option [of resting Bumrah] in the last game, we can look at it. But I'd say we're going to pick our best team for every game. He obviously fits into that picture,” said ten Doeschate.