Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has weighed in on the ongoing debate over Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management, insisting that once a player is selected for the national team, they shouldn’t be in a position to “pick and choose” matches. His comments come after Bumrah featured in only three of the five Tests against England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy — ironically, the two games he missed were the ones India went on to win.
Despite his limited appearances, Bumrah still finished as the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the series, bagging 14 wickets in just three Tests. This was nine short of Mohammed Siraj’s tally of 23, yet his strike rate reaffirmed his status as India’s premier fast-bowling spearhead. His performances included a brilliant five-wicket haul in the series opener at Headingley and a four-wicket burst at Lord’s, though India ended up losing both matches.
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“If there is an injury issue, then the board and the player have to decide. But once you’re in the team, you can’t pick and choose your matches,” Mohammed Azharuddin told Mid-Day. “Yes, workload is a factor, but at this level, you have to manage it yourself. You are playing for the country.”
The former skipper also questioned what might happen if India urgently needed Bumrah in a critical situation. “Siraj, along with Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, did a fantastic job in his absence, but what if the scenario was different?” he asked.
Azharuddin’s views echo the sentiments of former BCCI selector Sandeep Patil and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, both of whom have stressed that national duty should come above selective participation.
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Looking ahead, Bumrah is expected to feature in the Asia Cup before possibly being rested for the opening Test against the West Indies in early October. The seam-bowling line-up remains a key talking point, with Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh almost certain to lead the attack. The third pacer’s slot is up for grabs between Prasidh Krishna, fresh from a 25-wicket IPL season, and the aggressive Harshit Rana, known for his hostile short-pitched bowling.
