BCCI Tells Team India to ‘Get Serious About Tests’; Jasprit Bumrah Asked to Prioritise All WTC Matches Over ODIs — Report
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has issued a clear directive to the Indian cricket team: start taking Test cricket seriously. With India sitting sixth in the World Test Championship standings four wins and four losses from nine matches the path to the WTC Final remains uncertain, and the board is no longer willing to leave it to chance.
According to a Times of India report, the BCCI has also specifically asked pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to feature in all remaining WTC matches, even if it means sitting out certain ODI series.
Bumrah’s Workload to Be Managed Around Tests
Managing Bumrah’s fitness has long been a delicate exercise for the BCCI and team management. With the 2027 WTC Final scheduled for June next year and the ODI World Cup following three months later, the board has decided to draw a clear line on format priorities — and Tests come first.
After IPL 2026, and excluding the standalone Test against Afghanistan in June, India’s calendar is predominantly white-ball cricket until the away tour of New Zealand in October, followed by a five-match Border-Gavaskar series against Australia at home early next year.
“The attempt is to keep Bumrah fit enough to play all Tests. He is expected to play the four Tests in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The challenge will be to keep him fresh for the five Tests at home against Australia. The selectors won’t mind resting him for some ODI series. He played T20 cricket after a gap of two years in the Asia Cup last September and still delivered,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.
‘Get Serious About Tests’
India’s white-ball units have flourished since 2024, winning ICC events in both the ODI and T20I formats. The Test side, however, tells a different story a former world number-one outfit now struggling to break into the top two of the WTC standings.
“The idea is to get serious about Tests. The Afghanistan Test may be outside the WTC cycle, but there’s nothing like match practice. The top players will be assessed, and a call on them will be taken accordingly,” the source added.
Should India qualify for the WTC Final, the BCCI’s current planning ensures Bumrah remains available and fit for every Test that matters between now and June 2027.