'Sometimes it is not easy to do so when...': India's BGT winning captain passes blunt verdict on Jasprit Bumrah's decision to play three Tests vs England

India veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane praised pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the clarity he approached the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England. Before the five-Test match series, the legendary speedster informed the BCCI management, captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir that he will feature in three Tests. He played the first, third and fourth Tests against Ben Stokes' England.

Bumrah picked up two five-wicket hauls at Headingley and Lord's. In total, he scalped 14 wickets in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Midway through the final Test at the Oval, which India eventually won by six runs, Bumrah was released from the squad on Day 2.

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Rahane, who captained India to a thrilling 2-1 win against Australia Down Under in 2020-21, said Bumrah was exceptional in having the clarity about his workload and how he wanted to proceed ahead in the series.

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“What I liked about the Bumrah situation was that he was pretty clear; he knew what he wanted to do before the series. He said, 'I'll play the first one, I won't play the second one, and then I'll play the third'. Great clarity for a captain. It shows that he has the courage to tell the captain and management to be really clear,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.

“It also shows that he is keeping the team ahead of himself. Sometimes it is not easy to do so when you are playing for India. As a player, when you are representing India, it's not easy. Sometimes players convey the same message to the team, and then they get dropped,” he added.

Rahane also offered some advice for Gambhir, Gill, and Agarkar. He suggested that if the management wants Bumrah to be available for all of India's Test matches, he should be used in short spells, limited to just three or four overs at a time, to manage his workload effectively.

“It just shows that he wanted the team to be well prepared even when he wasn't playing. Because of his unique action, there is a lot of load on his body. If you want Bumrah to play all five Tests, then use him in smaller spells like 3 overs or 4 overs,” said Rahane.

“I think England were wary of Bumrah when he was playing; 'Bazball' didn't come out to the full extent. When Bumrah wasn't there, they played a little freely. It is important to use him properly; you have to give him the luxury to get the best out of him,” he added.

The five-match Test series between India and England ended in a 2-2 draw. India claimed victories in the second and fifth Tests, while England won the first and third. The fourth Test ended in a draw.