India's legendary speedster Jasprit Bumrah is currently facing a lot of criticism for featuring only three Tests against England in the five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 to manage his workload. Former India chief selector Chetan Sharma has backed the pace spearhead, stating that the players go by the physios' advice as they are the "better judges".
Bumrah played first, third and fourth Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, skipping two matches with Mohammed Siraj leading the pace-bowling attack. Chetan, who is also a former pacer, reckons that it was akin to a patient having to follow the doctor's advice.
"If the medical team advises, if the doctor tells me that I have to take antibiotics, then I have to consume them.
"If our physios is telling a player to manage workload, I think we should listen to them because they are the better judges," said Sharma on the sidelines of the country's public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati signing a deal with London-based cricket analytics company CricViz on Monday for the telecast of 104 episodes of "The Great Indian Cricket Show" on Doordarshan.
As India are gearing up for the Asia Cup 2025, Chetan Sharma believes that the England series surely gave confidence to Jasprit Bumrah for the continental tournament, which will take place in the UAE next month.
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"I know that whoever is selected will be the best for the country. And the kind of cricket we are playing right now, I'm really proud with the way India played in England.
"And I'm very confident that we are definitely going to win the Asia Cup (to be played in T20 format) because soon after that we are playing the T20 World Cup (in 2026) in India.
"It's a very big thing when you are playing (the World Cup) in you own backyard. If the intent is right, the results will also be good," said Sharma after the event.
Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to start from September 9, and India will start their campaign on the next day against the UAE. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 14 at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.