After Jasprit Bumrah was left out of India’s squad for the second Test of their tour of England at Edgbaston, Irfan Pathan claimed that Bumrah’s recurring absence — not due to injury but for a potential injury concern — is detrimental to the stability of India’s bowling lineup in Tests.
Pathan would add that India now need to start looking past both Bumrah and his long-term fast-bowling partner Mohammed Shami in the longest format.
“If you are selected in the Indian team, you cannot pick and choose (which match to play) to manage your workload,” he said on Sony Sports. “There is no other bolwer 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.”
“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 would go deeper into why Bumrah coming in and out of the team for a five-match Test series works to India’s disadvantage in two ways. “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,” he said.
“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,” he would add.
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