Former Indian cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner Dilip Vengsarkar fumed against India’s workload management strategy by allowing the fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to play only selective matches in the ongoing five-match test series against England.
The 31-year-old pacer played the first and third tests of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025, while he was rested for the second test at Edgbaston.
Despite having a long break after the opening test, there is still suspense about Bumrah’s availability for the upcoming fourth test at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Vengsarkar reacted that players should have no personal preference and need to play all matches in the series, particularly while speaking about Bumrah.
‘If You’re Not Fit, Then Don’t Play All Matches in the Series’: Dilip Vengsarkar
In a recent interview with RevSportz, Dilip Vengsarkar voiced his dissatisfaction, pointing out that the strategy of resting players for particular matches wouldn’t have been successful during his era.
Moreover, he was puzzled to see Bumrah not taking part in the second test, even despite a one-week break. Here is what Vengsarkar said:
“See! I don’t encourage the method of bowlers selecting which test matches they should play. If you’re fit enough, then ensure your presence by playing all test matches for your nation.
It is a fact that Jasprit Bumrah is a top-class bowler, and there is no doubt about it. He is one such match-winner for India. Most importantly, you should play every match when you’re on tour. And there is no option of choosing matches according to one’s personal choice.
It becomes important to play for India, and if you’re not at all fit, then my advice is not to play all the matches in the series. After the first test at Headingley, Bumrah had a 7 to 8-day gap, but was not included in the playing XI for the second test, which is not at all an acceptable fact. Possibly, Agarkar and Gambhir might have liked this approach very much,” Vengsarkar said.
Why is Jasprit Bumrah given Rest in Between the Series?
After Bumrah faced a back injury in the 5-match test series of the Australian tour, he was sidelined from competitive cricket for three months, thereby missing the Champions Trophy 2025 as well. So, the Indian cricket team management decided to give rest to their core pacer in between the series to avoid excess workload on him.
Before the commencement of the England tour, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that Bumrah wouldn’t be available for all five test matches. He explained that the veteran fast bowler will play only three of them to ensure his availability for all formats of international cricket.
India’s Improper Workload Management
As a pre-planned workload management strategy, Bumrah missed out on the second test to take part in the third test played at Lord’s. Although the team management hasn’t cited any injury problems, the route was chosen to ensure their key bowlers’ longevity for different formats and avoid excessive burnout.
Also, the cricket analysts strongly believe that resting a world-class bowler like Bumrah during the important phases of the series might damage India’s momentum.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Performance in the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025
Despite being rested for the second test match at Edgbaston, Jasprit Bumrah is the second leading wicket-taker in the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025, having bagged 12 wickets in 4 innings. Currently, Mohammed Siraj tops the list by taking 13 wickets in 6 innings, thereby leading by a slight margin compared to his teammate.
As Bumrah played only two tests at Headingley and Lord’s, he is the only Indian bowler to take a 5-wicket haul twice in the ongoing series. However, his contributions ended up as a losing cause for India in both tests as they are currently trailing the 5-match series by 1-2.
Will Jasprit Bumrah Play the 4th Test at Old Trafford?
India’s fate to triumph the 5-match test series in England completely depends upon their performance in the fourth test at Old Trafford. So, Jasprit Bumrah’s presence in the playing XI becomes crucial not only to bolster the bowling attack but also to steer his team to victory and keep their hopes alive for a series-deciding 5th test at the Kennington Oval, London.
Therefore, it becomes mandatory for Bumrah to feature in two consecutive tests for the first time in the ongoing series, if he participates in next week’s fourth test in Manchester.
Conclusion
Dilip Vengsarkar’s words weren’t meant to criticize Jasprit Bumrah’s extra cautious participation to manage his workload. The former cricketer mainly questioned players’ decisions to choose matches, saying that a player should not be allowed to skip matches unless they are seriously injured.
Indian team management’s decision to allow Bumrah for three out of five matches has sparked concerns on how modern cricket maintains a perfect balance with player psychological health and national commitments.
Although players’ workload management is important in the present era, it shouldn’t conflict with the team’s competitive nature and consistency, particularly during the high-profile series.