Jasprit Bumrah Attacked for Skipping Test Match Against England in Wake of Workload Fears

India is playing a five-match Test series with England and the matches have been tough until now. India lost the first Test match against England at Leeds by five wickets but were back with a strong comeback in the second match with a win by 336 runs in Birmingham. But England regained the lead again by securing the third Test by a mere 22 runs. India is now trailing 1-2 in the series and needs to win both of the remaining matches in order to ensure a series win. But Team India's biggest worry at present is uncertainty about their star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and if he would be available for the next matches.

Bumrah had played the first and third Test matches of the series but had not played the second one. He was rested as part of a workload management. The chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Bumrah was never going to play all five matches. The rotation plan was initiated even before the series commenced due to the necessity of handling his physical conditioning and not sustaining injuries that would cause him to be out of action for extended lengths of time. The decision was made with caution particularly after Bumrah had endured an injury in the last tour of Australia where he participated in all five Tests. That injury had kept him out of competitive cricket for almost three months and the team management did not want to take a similar gamble in England.

Even with this planning some experts and former players are not happy with resting Bumrah in the middle of a series. Some of the loudest outbursts came from former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar. He severely criticized the move to rest Bumrah and claimed that if a player is fit he must play in every game of the country. Vengsarkar added that while playing for India there must be no space for what he referred to as personal choice. In his view once a player becomes a member of the touring team he must be available for all games unless he is really unfit.

Vengsarkar did not spare his views. He said that the priority must be to play for India and if a player is not fit at all, then he should not be in the playing eleven either. He asked why Bumrah was not played in the second Test after having an entire week of rest following the first game. He had argued that although the choice may have been understandable to the selectors such as Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir, it did not appear understandable to the fans or past players like him.

The entire episode has raised controversy among cricket experts and fans. There is concern on one hand regarding safeguarding a precious bowler like Bumrah from exhaustion and harm. On the contrary there is frustration when star performers are not available in important matches. Bumrah is regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in the world and his availability can change games for India. In a closely contested series like this one each game matters and losing a star bowler like Bumrah in any game can be costly.

What gives this debate a more somber tone is where the series stands at present. India is already in arrears and there is no margin for additional errors or wrong choices. The margin of the loss in the third Test was hardly any and supporters are debating if Bumrah's inclusion in that second Test could have altered the course of the series. Rotating players in a series where a lot is at stake can be a risk and this time has attracted criticism from all sides.

Most fans think that there can be more planning in regard to player rotation particularly in a series as long and competitive as this one. They think it is okay to rotate players but timing is everything and every game must be treated with seriousness. Some feel that players such as Bumrah are humans and not machines. Handling their workload will be vital to their long-term input for Indian cricket. Injuries to major players in the past have compromised the performance of the team in major competitions, after all.

The Indian cricket administration is obviously attempting to strike a balance between performance and the health of the players. They would like their best talent on hand for the long run but must also play a good eleven in each match. Bumrah's situation has exposed just how tough these choices are. It also reveals the extent of expectation from the fans regarding big series such as India vs England.

Whether or not Bumrah will play the remaining matches is still not confirmed. His fitness will be closely monitored and the team will likely take a call based on the situation and medical advice. The criticism from former players like Vengsarkar will definitely spark more discussion but it will also remind everyone how important commitment and availability are when playing for the national team.

For now attention will be given to how India comes back in the fourth Test. The side will have to play a strong game to keep the series in contention and having their best players