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India's pace maestro Jasprit Bumrah has been assigned a new role in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, a strategy that former batter Mohammad Kaif has pointed out as having a significant drawback. Bumrah, often considered one of the world's most dangerous pacers, has frequently been sidelined by injuries, missing several crucial ICC tournaments as a result.
Concerns over his workload management led to Bumrah missing some key fixtures against England in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a decision that drew criticism at the time. In the 2025 Asia Cup, Bumrah stands as the only frontline fast bowler for the Men in Blue, supported by three Indian spinners, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, and the bowling capabilities of Shivam Dube.
Mohammad Kaif brings Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy miss to everyone's notice
Despite featuring in every game, the new approach seems to be influenced by coach Gautam Gambhir's desire to manage the ace speedster's injury proneness. In this Asia Cup, Captain Suryakumar Yadav has consistently utilised Bumrah almost entirely within the powerplay. In every match, Bumrah has bowled three overs in the first six overs, a strategy likely aimed at maximizing his impact with the new ball while he is fresh.
Mohammad Kaif, however, sees this as a major concern. He argues that having only one over of Jasprit Bumrah remaining for the final 14 overs of the game effectively removes the mental pressure on the opposing batters, allowing them to approach the remainder of the Indian bowling attack with less apprehension.
"Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in the Asia Cup, he bowled a three-over spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters; against stronger teams at the World Cup, this could hurt India," tweeted Mohammad Kaif on his X handle.
Another major change observed in India's playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 is the omission of Arshdeep Singh. Widely regarded as India's best pacer in the T20 format—having already taken 100 wickets for the country, Arshdeep has been dropped from the side. His absence is particularly notable because he is often referred to as the ideal bowling partner for Jasprit Bumrah. The duo enjoyed tremendous success in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, where Arshdeep was India's highest wicket-taker, followed closely by Bumrah, who was also named the Player of the Tournament. However, coach Gautam Gambhir's recent strategies regarding Arshdeep Singh's selection have remained unclear.
Meanwhile, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been included in India's squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, which also features some new players.
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