Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes Team India can win Test matches without their star speedster Jasprit Bumrah’s services. Ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, India supporters were
concerned about how their side would fare without Bumrah who was expected to miss two Tests during the tour due to workload. However, in Bumrah’s absence at Edgbaston and The Oval, India won both games and proved that the side is no more completely bankable on the 31-year-old. Mohammed Siraj spearheaded India’s fast-bowling unit confidently in the two contests and played a vital role in both victories.
Panesar believes Team Indiacaptain Shubman Gill’s biggest accomplishment in England was that he proved that his side can now win Tests without Bumrah. "The biggest factor, as for Shubman here, is that he can win Test matches without Jasprit Bumrah. That's a massive acclaim. The best bowler in the world. He doesn't need him. I think India can win Test matches without Jasprit Bumrah. I think that's the biggest achievement from his captaincy," said the former England bowler to Hindustan Times.
India should play home Tests without Jasprit Bumrah: Monty Panesar
Monty Panesar also suggested that India should play without Jasprit Bumrah in the home Test series, but utilise him in overseas conditions as the pacer is pivotal for his side during foreign assignments. "I think it's good if he does play the overseas Test matches, and probably you don't need him for home Test matches. India can beat any team at home probably without him, but for overseas Tests, he is the X-factor. They can probably tell him that we no longer need you for home Tests. But for the away Tests, we definitely do," added Panesar.
Bumrah played three Tests during the England tour and picked up 14 wickets in five innings of three matches. With these figures, he ended up as fourth highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with Prasidh Krishna, who hunted the similar number of scalps in six innings.
