You Can’t Pick & Choose if Selected for India: Irfan on Bumrah
The Indian cricket team has been facing a crisis in their pace attack with Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka. The team management has decided to rest Bumrah, citing workload management, which has raised eyebrows among cricket fans and experts alike. Ex-India cricketer Irfan Pathan has also joined the chorus, criticizing the decision to rest Bumrah and saying that if you’re selected for the Indian team, you cannot pick and choose.
In an interview with News18, Irfan Pathan said, “You can’t pick and choose if you’re selected for the Indian team. If you’re selected, then because of workload, you cannot pick and choose. You have to play whenever your team needs you.” He further added that the team management should have planned for Tests assuming that Bumrah and Mohammad Shami won’t always be available.
Irfan’s comments come at a time when the Indian team is struggling to find a reliable pace combination. Bumrah’s absence has forced the team to rely on Mohd. Siraj and Umesh Yadav, who have not been able to replicate their limited-overs success in Tests. The team management has also decided to give a chance to young bowlers like Akash Deep, who made his debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
However, Irfan believes that Akash Deep won’t achieve stability in his performance as he’ll only play during Bumrah’s absence. “Akash Deep won’t get a chance to settle down because he’ll be playing only during Bumrah’s absence. If you’re playing only 10-15 overs in a match, it’s difficult to get into a rhythm,” Irfan said.
Irfan’s comments have sparked a debate in the cricket fraternity, with many agreeing with his views while others disagreeing. Some have argued that the team management has taken a wise decision by resting Bumrah to prevent burnout, while others have criticized the decision, saying that it’s unfair to the young bowlers who are trying to establish themselves.
The Indian team has been struggling with workload management in recent times, with several players, including Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma, being rested for different series. The team management has been taking a cautious approach, trying to balance the workload of their players with the need to win matches.
However, Irfan believes that the team management should have planned for Tests assuming that Bumrah and Shami won’t always be available. “You have to plan for Tests knowing that Bumrah and Shami won’t always be available. You can’t keep resting players and then expecting them to fit into the team whenever they’re needed,” Irfan said.
Irfan’s comments have also raised questions about the team’s pace attack in the long term. The Indian team has been relying heavily on Bumrah and Shami for their pace bowling, but with their absence, the team is struggling to find a reliable combination.
The absence of Bumrah and Shami has also given an opportunity to young bowlers like Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna to make their mark. However, Irfan believes that they need more game time to establish themselves. “Young bowlers need to play more matches to get into a rhythm. You can’t just give them one or two matches and expect them to perform,” Irfan said.
In conclusion, Irfan’s comments have highlighted the need for the team management to plan for Tests assuming that Bumrah and Shami won’t always be available. The team needs to find a reliable pace combination, and resting Bumrah without a clear plan for his replacement has raised questions about the team’s strategy. As Irfan said, you can’t pick and choose if you’re selected for the Indian team, and the team management needs to take a more holistic approach to team selection and player management.
