India's World Cup-winner and former star all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged Shubman Gill to focus on building a team for the future, suggesting they should look beyond veteran pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Pathan was also not happy with Jasprit Bumrah's absence in the second Test against England as he stated that a premier bowler like him should not be in a position to selectively participate in matches for the national team.
Bumrah is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world, and his inclusion significantly strengthens the Indian cricket team. During the previous World Test Championship cycle, Bumrah delivered exceptional performances, consistently demonstrating his high caliber. However, his availability for India's Test series against England will be limited. Prior to the five-Test series in England, it was officially announced that Bumrah would only play in three of the matches. This decision was made to carefully manage his workload, primarily due to a severe back injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-25, after participating in all five games. Bumrah featured in the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds, where he took five wickets in the first innings but was unsuccessful in the second. Despite India trailing 0-1 in the series, many expected Bumrah to play in the second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham, but he was surprisingly rested.
As far as Mohammed Shami is concerned, the experienced pacer is absent from the ongoing series in England due to fitness concerns and his current inability to bowl the long spells typically required in red-ball cricket.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Irfan Pathan expressed his opinion that the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah's availability disrupts the stability of the Indian bowling attack. He emphasised the urgent need to plan for a future beyond both Bumrah and Shami.
“If you are selected in the Indian team, you cannot pick and choose (which match to play) to manage your workload. There is no other bowler like him, he is world-class. But here, you are not missing the match for injury but for ‘workload management’. Now Akash Deep will take his place, and be expected to do well as soon as he comes — and maybe he does — but any bowler needs time to settle in. That continuity is needed,” Pathan said.
“This is why I have been saying that Indian cricket has to start thinking about playing without Bumrah and (Mohammed) Shami. They have to start planning for playing without them in Test cricket," he added.
Pathan talked about how important was Bumrah's participation in all five Tests for Team India. He also pointed out that the players who are brought in to replace a key bowler like Bumrah often do not receive an extended run in the team to prove their capabilities. He went on to elaborate on this point.
“The main fast bowler of the lineup cannot play all five Tests overseas, so firstly, India don’t have Bumrah’s services throughout the series and secondly, his replacement, a younger player, is only getting a chance to play when he doesn’t. So he does not have stability. This is the only overseas five-match series of the new World Test Championship cycle. This was the series in which Bumrah was needed most. If he had a niggle or an injury, I would understand. But just to manage his workload? Then I don’t think this is coming to India’s advantage," Pathan concluded.