You Can’t Pick & Choose If Selected for India: Irfan on Bumrah
The decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against Sri Lanka has sparked a heated debate in the cricket world. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has joined the chorus of criticism, expressing his disappointment and concern over the decision. In a recent interview, Pathan voiced his opinion, stating that if a player is selected for the Indian team, they cannot “pick and choose” when to play or not.
Bumrah’s absence from the second Test has raised eyebrows, particularly given the team’s reliance on him for wickets. The pacer has been instrumental in India’s success in recent years, and his absence has left a gaping hole in the team’s bowling attack. Pathan believes that the decision to rest Bumrah sends the wrong message to other players and may lead to a lack of stability in the team’s performance.
“If you’re selected for the Indian team, then because of workload, you cannot pick and choose,” Pathan said. “You need to be available for every game, especially in a format like Test cricket where you need to build partnerships and momentum.” He added that players like Akash Deep, who are called up as replacements, will struggle to achieve stability in their performance since they will only play during Bumrah’s absence.
Pathan’s comments are a reflection of the concerns many have raised about the decision to rest Bumrah. The pacer has been dealing with a nagging injury, and while it’s understandable to give him time to recover, the timing of his rest may not be ideal. With the Test series against Sri Lanka already in the bag, many believe that the team could have used this opportunity to blood younger players and build for the future.
However, India’s bowling coach, Ramakrishnan Sridhar, has defended the decision, stating that the team wanted to give Bumrah a break to manage his workload. “Jasprit Bumrah has been an incredible asset for the team, but we also need to manage his workload,” Sridhar said. “He has been bowling a lot of overs in the last few years, and we need to make sure he’s 100% fit and ready to go.”
While Sridhar’s concerns about Bumrah’s workload are understandable, many believe that the team should have taken a more holistic approach to managing his fitness. Instead of resting him for just one Test, the team could have worked with him to build up his endurance and ensure that he’s ready to play whenever needed.
Moreover, Pathan’s comments highlight the need for India to plan for Tests assuming that Bumrah and Mohammad Shami won’t always be available. Both pacers have been instrumental in India’s success, but they have also been prone to injuries and fatigue. The team needs to develop a plan to ensure that they can still compete at the highest level even without their star bowlers.
In recent years, India has struggled to find a reliable replacement for Bumrah and Shami. While players like Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma have been tried, they have failed to deliver consistently. The absence of Bumrah and Shami has exposed the team’s lack of depth in the bowling department, and it’s crucial that the team addresses this issue sooner rather than later.
In conclusion, Irfan Pathan’s comments serve as a reminder that if a player is selected for the Indian team, they need to be available for every game. The decision to rest Bumrah sends the wrong message to other players and may lead to a lack of stability in the team’s performance. India needs to plan for Tests assuming that Bumrah and Shami won’t always be available and develop a reliable replacement for them.
