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Team India will shift their focus on Asia Cup 2025's preparation after the conclusion of Test series against England. India would want their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in good shape for the showpiece tournament which is scheduled to start from September. Meanwhile, a big update has emerged regarding Bumrah's participation in the upcoming Asia Cup.
Jasprit Bumrah's Asia Cup participation
Notably, Bumrah has been released from India's squad for the fifth Test against England. For the unversed, BCCI already made it clear that Bumrah would only feature in three of the five Test matches against England. This decision was part of a workload management strategy, a move he took to prevent a recurrence of the injuries he sustained after playing all five matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy of 2024-25.
His choice to miss two Test matches drew significant criticism, with some questioning his commitment and his future in Test cricket. Despite calls for him to play in the final Test at The Oval, particularly with India trailing 1-2 in the series, Bumrah stuck to his plan. He played in the Leeds, Lord's, and Manchester Tests, where he took 14 wickets at an average of 26. For the fifth Test, India made four changes to the squad, with Bumrah, along with Rishabh Pant, Shardul Thakur, and Anshul Kamboj, making way for Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, and Akash Deep.
Bumrah's Long-Term Test future
According to a report from PTI, Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to be available for full five-match Test series for the remainder of his career. India's next such assignment is a home series against Australia in 2027. The team's immediate Test schedule includes two-match series against both the West Indies and South Africa. This approach to workload management is a significant factor in his recent absence from the fifth Test against England. The BCCI was reportedly aware of the 'huge risk' of having Bumrah play at The Oval, and his rest was a strategic move to ensure his availability for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
"There is an Asia Cup around the corner, and the T20 World Cup is also there. He would want to play those events. Considering his body, he can't play every game. He needs to be managed with extra care. Playing him at The Oval would have been a huge risk. Going forward, there needs to be a clear plan on how to manage Bumrah’s Test career," said a BCCI source, as quoted by PTI.
Bumrah's decision to play only three of the five Tests has sparked debate, with some questioning whether he is receiving special treatment. India's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, acknowledged that the pacer's availability is a 'complex issue' and stated that the team decided to honor his request. In the three matches he did play, Bumrah bowled a total of 119.4 overs, and his management has become a key topic. Reportedly, the BCCI selection committee and other officials are scheduled to meet after the conclusion of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy to review the tour. A top priority for this meeting will be discussing and charting the future of Bumrah in Test cricket.
Notably, the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in a T20I format, is scheduled to take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28. Defending champions India will start their campaign against the United Arab Emirates on September 10, followed by a highly anticipated match against Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage game is against Oman on September 19. If India finishes in the top two of their group, they will advance to the Super Fours stage, where they will play three more matches. A strong performance in the Super Fours could see them qualify for the final on Sunday, September 28.
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