Manjrekar Suggests Rethinking Bumrah’s Role in Indian Team

Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer, has raised concerns about the automatic selection of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the national team. Manjrekar argued that if Bumrah’s workload prevents him from participating in all matches, he shouldn’t be a guaranteed first-choice player.

In his newspaper column, Manjrekar lauded the Indian team’s Test victories in England. He encouraged selectors to make difficult decisions regarding prominent players.

“The game invariably reflects reality, regardless of our attempts to conceal it. It’s noteworthy that India’s two Test wins occurred when Bumrah was absent.

“This should inspire Indian selectors to confront challenging choices concerning high-profile players,” he stated.

Manjrekar proposed that if Bumrah is unable to consistently play matches, his automatic selection as India’s primary bowler should be reconsidered.

“India achieved these victories without key players such as Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Bumrah, demonstrating that no individual, regardless of their stature, is indispensable,” he noted.

He commended the efforts of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, whose performances effectively filled the void. Siraj emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets, while Deep and Prasidh Krishna jointly secured 27 wickets.

“Indian cricket shouldn’t have to accommodate Bumrah; rather, Bumrah needs to adapt. Should he aspire to contribute to Indian Test cricket, sustained performance and resilience are vital. Decisive actions and improved fitness standards will ensure he remains at the pinnacle,” he added.

Notably, India secured victories in the two Tests where Bumrah did not play, despite him being the second-highest wicket-taker for India, securing 14 wickets at an average of 26.00, while bowling approximately 24 overs per innings.

Furthermore, Bumrah’s participation in the Asia Cup appears doubtful due to concerns regarding his workload.