Former India selector slams Bumrah for playing IPL

Team Indiapacer Jasprit Bumrah failed to record his presence in a couple of Tests during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, and the reason was the workload management. His absence from the two Tests attracted

reactions from India's former cricketers. World Cup 1983 champions Sunil Gavaskar and Sandeep Patil had already expressed displeasure over the workload. Gavaskar had called the workload management nonsense, while Patil had wondered how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allowed the pacer to take the workload management. Recently, another World Cup 1983 champion joined the debate.

Dilip Vengsarkar, who was the chief selector of Team India from 2006 to 2008, recently spoke to the Times Of India (TOI) and wished that Bumrah savailable for all Tests in England. "It was a series for the ages and I wish Bumrah was available for almost all the Tests. We could have won the series if that was the case. You can’t blame Bumrah for missing matches at times. We must remember that Bumrah has undergone a back surgery," said Vengsarkar as quoted by TOI.

The World Cup 1983 champion also said that if he was a chief selector, he would’ve spoken to Mumbai Indians (MI) owner Mukesh Ambani and conveyed to him that it’s essential for Bumrah to miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 to participate in the England series. "His back is vulnerable and we must be cautious with him. He has given his all whenever he has played for India. I hope he returns for India after adequate rest and when fully fit. If I was the India chief selector, I would have convinced Mukesh Ambani and Bumrah that it was important for Bumrah to miss the IPL for the England series, or play a lesser number of matches in the IPL," added Vengsarkar.

Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in IPL 2025 and Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025

Donning the Mumbai Indians (MI) jersey, Jasprit Bumrah took 18 wickets in 12 matches at a frugal economy of 6.67 and ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker for his side. In the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, he was the fourth most successful bowler with Prasidh Krishna. The 31-year-old took 14 scalps in five innings of three contests.

India’s next assignment is Asia Cup 2025 to be played from September 9 to 28, and Bumrah is highly likely to remain unavailable for the Men in Blue. Talking about Bumrah’s previous T20 International (T20I) outing, it came in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa in June 2024.