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Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin showed no mercy and slammed the team management for being overly concerned with Jasprit Bumrah's workload management during the five-match Test series against England. Bumrah only featured in three out of five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, however this eventually didn't go on to affect the Men in Blue much as they won both the games where the pacer was rested.
Bumrah finished the series with 14 scalps under his belt from five innings, including fifers in both the Headingley and Lord's Tests. Despite his individual brilliance, the Indian team went on to lose both these matches and the series would eventually end at 2-2 with the Men in Blue scripting a thrilling victory by just 6 runs.
While Azharuddin lauded the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna for stepping up in Bumrah's absence, he was critical of the team management for keeping the pace spearhead out of action even when he wasn't even injured.
"If there is an injury issue, then the Board and the player have to decide. However, I feel once you are in the team, you can't pick and choose your matches. There is a workload, but at this level, you must manage it. You are playing for the country. It was a different story that Siraj, along with Prasidh [Krishna] and Akash Deep, rose to the occasion, and we were fortunate that we could win without Bumrah, but what happens if India needs Bumrah badly in a particular situation?" Azharuddin was quoted as saying by Mid-day.
Azharuddin was left impressed with Gill's performance as captain
On the other hand, Azharuddin showered praise on Shubman Gill, who was captaining the side for the first time in red-ball cricket. He further pointed out how the 25-year-old did a fantastic job with the bat during the series and remarked that he has started his tenure as captain on a 'high note'.
"At the start of the tour, many were apprehensive of new captain Gill, but in the end, this young team came out with flying colours. The batters did a very good job, particularly Shubman, KL Rahul and [Ravindra] Jadeja. Gill has started his tenure as captain on a high note," Azharuddin stated.
Meanwhile, India's next Test assignment will be a two-match home series against West Indies which will commence from October 2. It remains to be seen if the team management will rest Bumrah for the series or not.
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