Sanjay Manjrekar believes Jasprit Bumrah should adapt to the demands of Indian cricket, rather than expecting the system to adjust around him. The renowned cricket commentator weighed in on the ongoing debate over Bumrah’s workload, emphasizing that the star pacer needs to enhance his fitness to consistently represent India in Test cricket.
Since the conclusion of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 earlier this month, discussions have intensified over Bumrah’s limited appearances. Sanjay Manjrekar, The right-arm fast bowler featured in only three of the five Tests during India’s England tour, following prior advice to skip two matches.
Despite taking 14 wickets in those three games, including two five-wicket hauls, some former players criticized Bumrah for missing the crucial fifth Test at The Oval. India needed a win in that match to avoid a series loss.
Interestingly, India did not secure a victory in any of the matches where Bumrah played. In the Tests he missed—at Edgbaston and The Oval—Mohammed Siraj stepped up with five-wicket hauls, leading India to wins in both games.
Sanjay Manjrekar: Indian Cricket Shouldn’t Adjust for Jasprit Bumrah
In his Hindustan Times column, Sanjay Manjrekar argued that Jasprit Bumrah should not automatically be considered India’s frontline pacer if he cannot play consecutive Test matches. Sanjay Manjrekar emphasized that in such cases, other match-fit and motivated bowlers should be given priority.
“If he cannot play more than one or two matches in a row, he should not be your first-choice pick. Players who are eager and ready to perform should always be preferred over a highly skilled but inconsistent one,” he wrote. “It motivates enthusiastic players and is the right approach for the long-term health of the team.”
Sanjay Manjrekar also stressed that Bumrah needs to improve his fitness to sustain a Test career. “If he truly wants to serve Indian Test cricket, longevity and durability are crucial. The true test of a great athlete is to turn up even when not 100% fit,” he added.
He concluded, “Indian cricket must not adjust for Bumrah—Bumrah must adjust. Tough choices and working harder on fitness can raise the bar, just as past fast-bowling greats have done.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar backed Bumrah’s stance on workload management, acknowledging the challenge of playing consistently across all formats.
However, former captains Mohammad Azharuddin and Dilip Vengsarkar criticized the pacer’s decision. Vengsarkar specifically questioned why Bumrah didn’t rest during IPL 2025 instead of skipping two crucial Tests against England.
