With India swiftly flipping gears into T20 mode, the Men in Blue are slated to unleash their full-strength XIs starting with their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday. However, not everyone is pleased with the probable decision to go all out, certainly not former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja.
“What is the need to play Bumrah tomorrow, man? Usually, you keep him wrapped in cotton wool. Ab UAE ke against bhi tumhe Bumrah chahiye? (Now you need Bumrah even against the UAE?) Either don’t protect him at all, or if you need to preserve him, then do it in this type of match. Logic dictates that, but we never do things with logic,” Ajay Jadeja said on Sony Sports Network.
Bumrah is returning to the T20I circuit for the first time in 14 months since India’s World Cup win in Barbados last year through the continental event. The star pacer had endured a workload-induced stress fracture at the start of the year after an extensive Border-Gavaskar Trophy and subsquently missed out on the ODI Champions Trophy win in Dubai in March. With a strict cap of three Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, India could not acquire full services of Bumrah during another lengthy series between June and August.
“The match is against the UAE. No disrespect because I have seen their captain, [Muhammad] Wasim, and the talent he possesses. You cannot rank any team, but this is a T20 World Cup-winning Team India. Hence, I am clear. If Bumrah plays tomorrow, I am going on strike,” stressed Jadeja.
Pathan backs Jadeja
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan echoed Jadeja’s sentiment but insisted that if a player was entrusted of playing one game, he must feature in all matches in the tournament.
“You need to protect Bumrah, I understand. But what my opinion is, and I have said this during the England tour as well, is that if you have come to play a series, then you have to play it completely. You have not come into a series for recovery or management, you have come to play,” said Pathan.
“You will obviously think depending on the opposition, but when you pick up the momentum, you cannot let it slip. Bumrah, Arshdeep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel can be your bowlers. And then all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube at No. 7 and 8. If we have to bat till No. 8, there is no room for Kuldeep Yadav.”
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Post the UAE fixture, India will face Pakistan in Dubai in their second Group A match on Sunday.
