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 debate in the cricketing fraternity. While some have praised the move to give the pacer a break, others have questioned the timing of his absence. One such critic is former India cricketer Irfan Pathan, who believes that if you’re selected for the Indian team, then you can’t pick and choose when to play.
In an interview with News18, Irfan Pathan expressed his concerns over the decision to rest Bumrah, saying, “If you’re selected for the Indian team, then because of workload, you cannot pick and choose. You have to be available for every game, every series, every Test match. You can’t say, ‘I’ll play only when I’m in form’ or ‘I’ll play only when I’m not tired’.”
Irfan’s comments come at a time when the Indian team is facing a major injury crisis, with several key players ruled out of action due to various reasons. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant are all currently injured, and the team is relying heavily on a few players who are already shouldering a significant workload.
Bumrah’s absence, in particular, has raised eyebrows, given his importance to the team. The pacer has been one of India’s most successful bowlers in recent years, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Irfan believes that the team should have planned better for such situations, saying, “India must plan for Tests assuming Bumrah and Mohammad Shami won’t always be available. You can’t keep relying on the same players and expect them to keep performing at the highest level.”
Irfan’s criticism of the decision to rest Bumrah also extends to the team’s reliance on young fast bowler Akash Deep, who has been called up to replace the injured pacer. While Akash Deep has shown promise in domestic cricket, Irfan believes that he will struggle to achieve stability in his performance, given that he will only play during Bumrah’s absence.
“You can’t expect a player to perform consistently when he’s playing only in one or two games,” Irfan said. “Akash Deep needs to play regularly to gain experience and improve his skills. He can’t be expected to perform at the highest level after playing only a few games.”
Irfan’s comments have sparked a debate in the cricketing fraternity, with some agreeing with his sentiments and others defending the decision to rest Bumrah. While some have praised the move to give the pacer a break, others have questioned the timing of his absence, given the team’s current injury crisis.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is clear that the Indian team needs to plan better for such situations in the future. With so many key players currently injured, the team is relying heavily on a few players who are already shouldering a significant workload. The decision to rest Bumrah may have been made with the best intentions, but it has sparked a debate that will continue to rage on in the coming days.
In conclusion, Irfan Pathan’s comments serve as a reminder that in international cricket, you can’t pick and choose when to play. If you’re selected for the Indian team, then you need to be available for every game, every series, every Test match. The team needs to plan better for such situations in the future, and players need to be prepared to put their bodies on the line for the team.
