Fans furious with BCCI for resting Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the limited-overs series against New Zealand and Australia

High-flying Team India will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Australia in the upcoming three-match One-Day International series. The much-awaited series will get underway on January 12 as both the teams will start their final phase of preparation ahead of the World Cup. Following that, India will fly further south to take on New Zealand in five ODIs and three T20Is. All the players will be desperate to get to their best before the showpiece event in England, starting May 30.

However, the Indian selectors, on Tuesday, sprung a big surprise by resting pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the series in Australia as well as that tour of New Zealand. Mohammed Siraj has been named Bumrah’s replacement for those series while Siddarth Kaul has been added to the squad for the T20I series in New Zealand. The BCCI, in its release, stated that it took the decision “keeping in mind the workload of the bowler” and give the pacer some much-needed rest.

Bumrah recently starred for India in the historic Test series triumph over Australia. He bowled more overs (157.1) than any other fast bowler in the series, finishing the series as the top wicket-taker. Bumrah (511.3) is also at the second spot in the list for most overs bowled across the three formats in international cricket in 2018.

Fans not impressed

Meanwhile, the decision to rest Bumrah for the crucial series has not gone down well with the fans and the reasons are pretty obvious. Recently, reports emerged that skipper Virat Kohli wanted the pacers to take adequate rest before the World Cup by skipping some games of the Indian Premier League. However, it looks like there has been some change in the plans. The decision to rest Bumrah for the upcoming series can also mean that the franchises are not ready to rest Bumrah or any other pacer. The fans, however, are furious with the turn of events and took to Twitter to vent their anger.

Here are some of their reactions:

I think @BCCI is not watching @BLACKCAPS batting strength in the on going #NZvSL series. Bumrah must be in the playing squad…

— 🇮🇳 Anuradha 🇮🇳 (@AnuRadha9082) January 8, 2019

That will be tough as they are strong team and also their home conditions. Agar rest dena hi tha toh ipl mein dena tha

— Dk and pant are better than tuktuk dhobi (@Tuk_Tuk_dhobi) January 8, 2019

Why such a stupid decision @BCCI ..New Zealand pitch is turning pitch…and they are also a good team…we need @Jaspritbumrah93 …

— Subrata Biswas (@Subrata73040932) January 8, 2019

Can't decide bcci logic can give him rest in aus odi nz t20 but nz one day he should play

— AO (@AO31051999) January 8, 2019

Fans: International ki jagah IPL me rest de do

Bcci: pic.twitter.com/zp5xVQMPKk

— Dexter (@MunnaKaTunna) January 8, 2019

Shit!!! We need him!! He could have been rested for the IPL. India will pay a huge price for it.

— Varkey Joseph (@varksp) January 8, 2019

Bad decision by BCCI t-20 best bowler rest to play against NZ team!

— BHARAT DEVASI (@Bharatdevasi14) January 8, 2019

Bumrah is needed in NZ tour it will be a run fest.His Death bowling will be missed seems like they are resting him for getting fit for IPL 😡

— SamViratian🏏 (@sampathkumarre6) January 8, 2019

I think it's not a good decision. If #Bumrah wants some rest than he should not play in #IPL.

— Hemant Gupta (@ihemantg18) January 8, 2019

Bumrah being rested for Australia makes sense, but for NZ? Could've instead given him some rest during the IPL. #AUSvIND

— Sparsh Telang (@sparshblogger) January 8, 2019

Basically BCCI saving Bumrah's energy for IPL. Worst decision by Kohli and Ravi Shastri

— Urdesh Kumar (@Urdesh) January 8, 2019

@Jaspritbumrah93 should have been rested in IPL and T20 series rather than these important ODI series… Bumrah should have prioritised ODI series over IPL and T20. Poor decision making. #bumrah

— Hemanth Raj (@hemanthrj) January 8, 2019

Wow good job..keep him fit and fresh for very important IPL.. bumrah is a more important than Kohli.. India has reduced almost 50 percent of chances to winning a series specially in New Zealand where boundries are so small..

— Niel Ghodake (@iamnil2891) January 8, 2019

Bumrah rested for ODIs against Australia. Wouldn't it be better if he is rested for IPL? @BCCI #AUSvIND

— Priyank Sanghani (@ipriyanks) January 8, 2019

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