Former India National Cricket Team all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the Test captain Shubman Gill to build a team without veteran pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
Irfan Pathan also took a dig at Jasprit Bumrah, saying that the pace spearhead cannot pick and choose which Test matches he wants to play for the India National Cricket Team.
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Jasprit Bumrah RESTED for the 2nd Test against England
Bumrah is arguably the best bowler in world cricket at the moment, and his presence makes the Indian team significantly stronger. In the last World Test Championship cycle, Bumrah delivered an exceptional performance and looked a class apart.
However, he has made limited availability for India’s first Test series against England in the new ICC World Test Championship Cycle. Before the five Test matches on England soil, it was officially announced that Bumrah would only feature in three matches.
This decision was made to manage his workload, mainly because of the severe back injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 after playing all five games.
Bumrah played the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds and picked up five wickets in the first innings before going wicketless in the second innings. Many expected him to play the second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham with India going down 0-1, but the pacer was surprisingly rested.
Talking about Mohammed Shami, the veteran pacer is not featuring in the ongoing series in England because of fitness concerns and his inability to bowl long spells required in red-ball cricket.
If you are selected in the Indian team, you cannot pick and choose – Irfan Pathan slams Jasprit Bumrah
Speaking on Sony Sports, Irfan Pathan said that the doubts over Jasprit Bumrah’s availability disrupt the stability of the Indian bowling unit, and there is an urgent need to look at the life beyond Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. He elaborated:
“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.”
“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.”
This was the series in which Bumrah was needed most – Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan further highlighted the importance of Jasprit Bumrah playing all five Tests against England and added that the player who replaces the pace spearhead in the team doesn’t get a longer rope. He elaborated:
“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.”
