The efforts are currently on to seek full or maximum availability of two keen and able cricketers in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The two amazing, all format fast bowlers have long served
the national cricket team but truth be told, beyond the grasp of the white-ball or red-ball bilateral contests, their presence becomes sacrosanct to ensure India's success in mega ICC events, such as the Asia Cup that's up around the corner and then next year's T20 World Cup.
To have a Siraj bowling from an end and Bumrah from another means maximum impact for the team and at the same time, maximum damage wrecked for Team India's opponents. Their game awareness, ability to strike individual blows and hunt for wickets in tandem have for the longest time kept India in the game and why would anyone not want that? Why would Team India not want to have an extremely fit Bumrah and Siraj in one playing eleven so that their matchwinning impact can dwarf India's opponents' chances in a contest? As a result of his important endeavour, one the BCCI is trying to achieve, some fitness tests are reportedly lined up to ensure Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj's match availability for as far as possible in what lies ahead.
Here are four reasons why Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are undergoing fitness tests ahead of Asia Cup 2025
1. Post Asia Cup 2025, there's another Test series coming India's way
Not too long after the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup would be rendered complete that the team will be welcoming the West Indies for Test series. This begins on October 2, 2025.
With the effort being to ensure that the team playing in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle doesn't suffer on the part of losing out on relevant and vital talents, both Bumrah and Siraj are undergoing fitness tests to ensure that their availability is absolute with plenty of cricket still happening even after or post the Asia Cup 2025.
These tests will actually ensure that the players are not going to be rushed back in to the action.
2. BCCI's current focus is towards ensuring injury prevention
There's a long list of elite, white-ball contests of premier repute that shall have to see eager and widespread participation on the part of the senior and experienced members of the Indian national cricket team.
Right?
There's the Asia Cup up and coming this year, soon after which there's going to be the Test between India and the visiting West Indies side and then, the Australian tour and T20 World Cup 2026, which truth be told, is the most important ICC white-ball event for the next year. All these series require active and fit cricketers who can contribute to the team's glory. The BCCI are trying to ensure that none of the key players miss out, and that caring for their players' health is a strategic initiative.
Regarding the above, it has been observed that a particular fitness test will be performed before the selection meeting happens for these contests and the one right now, points to the end of August 2025. This will take into consideration each players' level of preparedness and that is why it is a key time for players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
3. The focus on Bumrah given his history of injuries
He has the makings to be a stalwart of the game in India or for India. That he is a great fast bowler already bears little doubt in the minds of anyone. But Bumrah, 457 international wickets for India already to his name, often wears out quickly and there's this pronounced concern of being match fit where it comes to important tournaments such as the ICC events. The last that he ever bowled in one day cricket, for instance, was in 2023.
It's been two years and we haven't seen the ace of pace in limited overs cricket's 50-over contests. Likewise, he couldn't injury manage himself fully in the recent England series.
Rather dramatically, Bumrah wasn't in the thick of the action for a year between 2022 and 2023.
Now that he's back and willing to go the extra mile, care is to be taken to ensure he's absolutely match fit and match ready. And for a consistent amount of time. But where it comes to the Asia Cup, specifically speaking, the idea is to ensure that Bumrah is particularly fit and ready for the decisive bits of the tournament not just one or two or at the most, three games.
4. The lengths to which Siraj can go is amazing, if not ultimate
He will for times to come be remembered as India's bowling star and hero of sorts in what was clearly evident in the dying or decisive moments of the Oval contest on the fifth and final day. Siraj picked, on the whole, 23 wickets against England, took two fifers and was a figure of attack and aggression even when Bumrah wasn't. Him being fit and available for both the Asia Cup 2025 and the West Indies test series is imperative for India as he's been in fine wicket-taking form. Siraj's been putting batters to trouble and the fitness test will identify his availability in the imminent future.
