India's legendary batter Dilip Vengsarkar has weighed in to the debate around premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah's workload. While Vengsarkar wanted Bumrah to play all five-Tests in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, he said that his commitment can’t be questioned since he is coming back after an injury. However, he feels that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), selectors and the team management could’ve convinced Mumbai Indians (MI) to let Bumrah skip the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 to stay fresh for the Test series in England.
Vengsarkar pointed out that no one remembers IPL performances compared to efforts in Test series. He feels that India had the chance to win the Test series in England had Bumrah played all five games.
"Considering the importance of the India versus England Tests series and his fragile back, Bumrah should have been told by the BCCI, selectors and the Indian team management to miss IPL-2025. It was very important that we had a fully fit and refreshed Bumrah for this iconic series. If I was the India chief selector, I would have convinced Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians owner) and Bumrah that it was important for Bumrah to miss the IPL for the England series, or play a lesser number of matches in the IPL. I’m sure that they would have agreed to do so,” Vengsarkar told the TOI.
“Who remembers the runs and wickets taken in the IPL? However, people will remember Mohammed Siraj's lion-hearted performance in this series (23 wickets in five Tests), Shubman Gill (754 runs in five Tests), KL Rahul (532), Yashasvi Jaiswal (411 runs) and Rishabh Pant's (479) sublime batting, and Washington Sundar's superb all-round performance (284 runs & seven wickets in four Tests).
“A series like this one takes place probably once in four years. I believe India are not playing a five-Test series till Jan 2027 (against Australia). It was a series for the ages and I wish Bumrah was available for almost all the Tests. We could have won the series if that was the case.”.
Vengsarkar hits out at Bumrah’s critics
Vengsarkar slammed the criticism around Bumrah for missing two Tests to manage his workload. He hopes that he returns to the Indian side "fully fit".
"You can’t blame Bumrah for missing matches at times. We must remember that Bumrah has undergone a back surgery. His back is vulnerable and we must be cautious with him. You can’t question his commitment for the country. He has given his all whenever he has played for India. I hope he returns for India after adequate rest and when fully fit," the 69-year-old with 17 Test centuries under his belt said.
Meanwhile, there are reports that Bumrah may miss the T20 Asia Cup 2025. If he missed the T20 tournament, he will aim for a comeback in the two-Test series at home against West Indies in October.