India's Pace Woes Surface Ahead of New Zealand Tour; Shastri Urges Bumrah Workload Management

India's T20I series against the West Indies has exposed vulnerabilities in their pace bowling attack, particularly in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Young bowlers like Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Prince Yadav are facing immense pressure, with fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel acknowledging the mental toll on the players as they prepare for the challenging tour of New Zealand.

Former coach Ravi Shastri has voiced his support for the inclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami in the T20I squad. However, he also emphasized the critical need for strategic workload management for Jasprit Bumrah, advising that the star pacer should not participate in all three formats to ensure his peak performance for the 2027 ODI World Cup, especially given the tough conditions expected in New Zealand.