India pacer Jasprit Bumrah and the team management have drawn flak as he played three out of five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Bumrah’s workload was managed throughout the series but many felt that he could have played one more Test, especially with series on the line. India’s legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar wants selector Ajit Agarkar to avoid using Bumrah’s services for inconsequential bilateral white-ball series and wants him fit for the home Test season. With plenty of time to go for the two-Test series at home against West Indies, Gavaskar felt that he could have played the Oval.
"Nobody is indispensable. That’s why it is of prime importance for the selectors to now decide when Jasprit Bumrah should be playing. There's already been a lot of debate about his appearances in the recently concluded series in England. To be fair, he had informed the selection committee that he could play only three Tests out of the five. The debate that has generated some heat is whether he should have played the last must-win Test match, especially since it was the grassiest pitch at the Oval in a long time. The next Test match was in early October, and so there were two clear months for him to rest and recover in time for that. The Indian team management stated that he wasn't picked considering his future. This is where the lines between what is good for the individual and what is good for Indian cricket got a little blurred," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day.
"Surely at that stage if he was fit, then for Indian cricket's sake, he had to play. Whether then it was his call or the management’s call not to play is not known, but in the end after India’s win it showed once again if ever there was need to know that nobody is indispensable in the game. The game just moves on."
Skip white-ball games, prioritise WTC final qualification
There have been unconfirmed reports that Bumrah may not play in the T20 Asia Cup 2025. It is followed by a two-Test series against West Indies in the first half of October. Gavaskar indicated that Bumrah should not be part of the white-ball tour of Australia which will be followed by a two-Test series against South Africa. The 76-year-old wants Bumrah to play all four Tests at home this year.
"That's why now comes the tricky decision for the selectors. What is more important? Qualifying for the World Test Championship or playing some bilateral white ball games which have no bearing at all. If India have to qualify for the WTC, then Jasprit Bumrah, being the premier fast bowler in the game, has to play in the four Tests that India have lined up between early October and late November. There's a gap of a month between these Tests against West Indies and South Africa which means that he should be rested for the white ball series. That should be the logic but then Indian cricket has got its own logic as was seen in the recently concluded series," Gavaskar further explained.
"The selection committee has taken some bold calls in choosing the squads which has shown remarkable results, and they have to be lauded for that, but when it comes to the selection of the final XI that is entirely the management’s call and that’s how it should be."
Bumrah’s hectic previous season
Last season. Bumrah played all the Tests, including two Tests against Bangladesh, three against New Zealand and the five-Test series on Australian soil. In the Sydney Test, he suffered a back injury and was ruled out of the remainder of the must-win Test. His absence hurt India and they were unable to level the Border-Gavaskar 2024-25 series.