India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah could miss out on the Asia Cup T20 due to workload management. Bumrah was released from the Indian team during the England tour as he chose not to play the fifth Test at The Oval to keep himself away from injury. The 31-year-old bowled 119.4 overs across the three games and picked up 14 wickets, including two fifers – at Headingley and Lord’s. However, in his third Test in the series, Bumrah struggled as he conceded more than 100 runs in a single innings for the first time in his career. Prior to India’s tour of England, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir had said that Bumrah would not play all five Tests as part of his workload management plan.
India’s next international assignment is Asia Cup T20 tournament and it would be a surprise if Bumrah opts to play the tournament considering that the next Test series against West Indies will start in less than a week’s time after the event in the UAE.
With the Asia Cup 2025 scheduled from September 9 to 28, the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar faces a tricky question. Given the form and strength of the Indian team, they are expected to go deeper into the tournament. With the Test series against the West Indies scheduled in less than a week’s time after the Asia Cup in the UAE, Bumrah is unlikely to play the Asia Cup.
“It will be a tricky call but Bumrah loves Test cricket and there are World Test Championship points at stake. As far as T20 is concerned, he can play the series against New Zealand in January, which will be a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup,” a BCCI source abreast with Indian selection process told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“If Bumrah plays Asia Cup and suppose India plays the final, no way can he play against West Indies at Ahmedabad. Obviously the question arises, do you need Bumrah against West Indies or he plays Asia Cup after a month’s break and plays the two Tests against South Africa. That call, Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir will have to take,” the source added.
Bumrah is not expected to play many ODIs till the T20 World Cup at home.
