Jasprit Bumrah released from India squad, begins a long break

Jasprit Bumrah missed out on the series deciding IND vs ENG 5th Test due to workload management.

India’s premier pace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, won’t be in London with the India squad that is playing the 5th Test. After Day 1 of the IND vs ENG 5th Test at the Oval, Bumrah has been released from the squad. He did not make the India Playing XI due to workload management, despite bowling only 119 overs in the three matches. Instead, Bumrah will now begin a long break with no matches scheduled till the Asia Cup 2025, if it goes ahead.

If Jasprit Bumrah skips the Asia Cup 2025, India’s next assignment will be in October against West Indies in a two-match Test series, followed by an Australia tour the same month. Till then, Bumrah can recover and be fully fit for a packed calendar later this year.

BCCI not happy with Jasprit Bumrah?

However, Bumrah’s early release without any context has put a question mark. Is all well between Bumrah and the team management? For those unaware, Bumrah informed the BCCI and the selectors that he could only play three Tests in the IND vs ENG series as per his doctor’s advice. Bumrah has a nagging back issue that requires constant management.

In the three matches that Bumrah played, he picked up 14 wickets, the highest by an Indian bowler. He also bagged two five-wicket hauls. However, he bowled only 119 overs. Mohd Siraj played all five Tests, while England’s Chris Woakes bowled 181 overs, and Ben Stokes bowled 140 overs. Brydon Carse bowled 155 overs.

But with Bumrah missing out on the series decider on a greenish Oval pitch, BCCI could revisit his workload management policy. If Bumrah is not available for a full series, he might not be picked at all. India do not have a five-match Test series until 2027 against Australia.

“Strength and condition (S&C) coaches can set the workload threshold for each player. But Bumrah’s availability should depend on his fitness, which will be assessed by the medical team,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.

Constant confusion

Even though Bumrah remained India’s best bowler, the team management could not say for sure if he would be available for the next Test. Bumrah was rested after the 1st Test despite a long seven-day gap. He returned to play the 3rd and 4th Test with an eight-day gap in between. However, with Bumrah informing the BCCI about the three-Test limit, he did not play the 5th despite the series being on the line.

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, captain Shubman Gill and bowling coach Morne Morkel could not say for sure whether Bumrah would play the Oval Test. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate termed it a “complex issue”.

“You know, he did say he was going to play three games. He left it up to us which three he played. We’ve tried to manage the situation,” Ryan ten Doeschate said at the post-match press conference on Thursday.

Hence, the BCCI will consult the medical team and determine whether to pick Bumrah for a five-match Test series if he can’t commit to a full series.