Dilip Vengsarkar Critiques Jasprit Bumrah's Absence in Test Match Against England

Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar has voiced his concerns over Jasprit Bumrah's decision to skip a Test match against England for workload management. Vengsarkar believes that players should not have the option to choose which matches to play, especially when fit. He argues that Bumrah's absence was unacceptable, particularly after a significant gap between matches. The former cricketer insists that all fit players should participate in every match for their country, especially in crucial series. This commentary raises questions about the current management strategies in cricket and the implications for team performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 17, 2025, 19:14 IST

Vengsarkar's Concerns Over Bumrah's Workload Management

Dilip Vengsarkar, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and chief selector, has expressed his discontent regarding star bowler Jasprit Bumrah's decision to miss a Test match against England for workload management reasons.

Bumrah, currently recognized as the top Test bowler globally, was absent from the second Test of the ongoing five-match series held at Edgbaston in early July. India secured a significant victory by 336 runs without his participation, yet Vengsarkar remains dissatisfied.

He argues that players should not have the autonomy to choose which matches to participate in during a tour. Vengsarkar insists that if a player is fit, they must play; if not, they should rest for the entire series.

In a recent interview with RevSports, Vengsarkar stated:

"The priority should be representing India. If you are unfit, then you shouldn’t play at all. Bumrah had a break of nearly 7-8 days after the first Test, yet he was still not selected for the second Test, which is unacceptable. Perhaps it was acceptable for Agarkar and Gambhir."

Vengsarkar further elaborated:

"I do not support bowlers selectively choosing Test matches. If you are fit and available, you should participate in every match for your country. Bumrah is an exceptional bowler capable of securing victories for India. However, once on tour, every match should be played without personal preferences influencing decisions."

In the two Tests he participated in, Bumrah claimed 12 wickets, achieving five wickets in each match. However, he opted out of the second Test as part of a pre-series strategy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that Bumrah would only play three out of five matches to avoid risking injury after recovering from a back issue that sidelined him for several months.

The decision to rest him during the second Test raised eyebrows, especially since India had already lost the first match. Many fans and analysts felt his presence was crucial to level the series. Nonetheless, he was slated to return for the third Test at Lord's, which commenced just three days after the conclusion of the second Test.

Vengsarkar believes this approach is unfair, asserting that a fit player should not be excluded from matches, particularly in such an important series.