Is Jasprit Bumrah Coming to the End of His Test Career? Fears Grow After Flat Show vs England

Jasprit Bumrah has been the most consistent Indian cricketer of the past couple of years but his recent performance in the fourth Test against England has raised a few eyebrows. His bowling was not as fiery and aggressive as it has been used to by cricket fans. This was the first time in his career that Bumrah conceded more than 100 runs in a single innings which is rather unusual for a player who is ranked number one in the ICC Test bowling ranks. His last figures in the first innings were 33 overs with 5 maidens for 112 runs and only 2 wickets. Mohammed Siraj did not fare much better and his figures read 30 overs for 140 runs and just a single wicket.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who is part of the commentary team, was very forthright in his comments. He mentioned that both Bumrah and Siraj looked jaded and not doing things as seamlessly as they normally do. He said that by his own observation the long sequence was definitely affecting them and this could be seen from their body language as well as their tempo. Ponting personally stated that Bumrah appeared flat right from the start of the match and his average pace had come down to about 82 to 83 miles per hour which was slower than his normal pace. He added that while fatigue is natural in a long sequence it remains a worry when the best bowlers start to appear jaded. Ponting did credit some of the England openers Duckett and Crawley who started putting pressure on the Indian bowlers early in the innings and made them play catch-up.

Bumrah's recent slump in pace and performance has also raised questions about his career in Test cricket. Ex-Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif poured oil on the fire by speculating that Bumrah may soon join the list of other older players like Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin who have retired from Tests or are planning a long break. Kaif shared a video stating that Bumrah may not play in the upcoming Tests and retirement is in the offing. He said Bumrah appears to be fighting a losing battle with his body despite the fact that his heart and passion remain intact. As per Kaif the thrill of bowling in Tests is no longer apparent and that is something Indian cricket fans may have to get used to in the near future.

Bumrah has been struggling with fitness issues for quite some time now. Earlier this year in the Border-Gavaskar series he couldn't bowl in the second innings of the final Test because of a back issue. The same injury also ruled him out for the Champions Trophy and the beginning of IPL 2025. Ever since he has been extremely cautious while managing his workload and specified even prior to the England tour that he would play no more than three Tests. He began the series on a strong note with a five-wicket haul at Headingley where he bowled at full speed and bothered the batsmen. He then missed the second Test at Edgbaston which India won and returned for the third Test at Lord's where he took another five-wicket haul even though he did not bowl at full pace.

Before the fourth Test started it was clear that the physical toll was coming back to haunt him. As much as Bumrah has been famous for his controlled aggression and consistent speed of bowling his loss of pace in this match was impossible to overlook. Viewers of the match could easily notice that he was not as good as he normally was and that something was amiss. The manner in which he was finding it difficult to keep pace and accuracy also ignited debate whether India is over-relying on its quick bowlers without resting them properly.

Adding fuel to speculations regarding Bumrah's future was the information that he declined the chance to lead the Indian team following Rohit Sharma's retirement. In a previous interview Bumrah had indicated that the BCCI had offered him the captaincy but he had been forced to turn it down to better manage his workload. According to him, it would not be right for the team if a single player did three Tests and another player took over for the remaining two. His choice indicates that he is distinctly prioritizing his fitness and is mindful of his body's limits.

Though this strategy may be astute in the short run it also indicates that Bumrah might not be on India's long-term Test agenda. With gamers such as Shubman Gill being hammered for questionable decision-making and the coaches too coming under criticism it is evident that India is in a transition phase. The management must look toward the future and perhaps gradually retire senior players such as Bumrah who are finding it hard to cope with Test cricket's physical rigors.

It is never easy to see great performers go through a slump particularly when they have been match-winners previously. Bumrah has provided Indian cricket with innumerable memories and match-winning spells but the game is going at a rapid pace and physical fitness determines how long a player can play. Fans could only wish that he recovers well and manages to extend his Test career. But for the moment the signs are ominous and the talk of his potential retirement is no longer rumour but fact.