‘Rest Bumrah vs Pakistan’: Sunil Gavaskar urges India to focus on Asia Cup final

Sunil Gavaskar has encouraged the Men in Blue to rest premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025, Super Four match (AP Photo)

India batting great Sunil Gavaskar has encouraged the Men in Blue to rest premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the Asia Cup 2025, Super Four encounter against Pakistan scheduled to be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Gavaskar added India might try a different batting order in the dead-rubber match against Oman to give players "some time at the crease".

“I would like to think that India would consider batting first and keep the same opening pair. Maybe number three, Suryakumar Yadav, the skipper, could drop himself down the order, giving Tilak Verma a chance for some time at the crease and allowing Sanju Samson a bit of a hit as well,” Gavaskar said during an interaction on the Sony Sports network.

“This would give the batters some practice not just for the game against Pakistan, but also for the upcoming Super Four matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It’s more about preparing the batters than the bowlers,” he added.

“I believe Jasprit Bumrah should be rested, perhaps even for the Pakistan game, so he’s available for the bigger match on Sunday, the 28th. That’s what India should be looking at. Of course, there will still need to be one bench player included, but Bumrah should be left out for tomorrow’s game to give him rest,” Gavaskar added.

Bumrah took three wickets in two games as he made his first appearance since the England Test series. Over the next eight days, India will play Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, with the final match scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.