Asia Cup 2025: 'If Bumrah plays, I will go on strike' - Former India captain on team combination for India vs UAE

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja has expressed himself clearly that the Indian team should not pick their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah for their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the United Arab Emirates on September 10. The match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Jadeja has reckoned that the rest of the bowling unit is capable enough to restrict the batting unit of the Muhammad Waseem-led side.

The Jamnagar-born believes that someone like Bumrah, whose workload management remains the topic of debate every time he plays, should not be required to play the match against an associate nation like the UAE. The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that India must choose logic and rest Bumrah for the clash on Wednesday. He will be keen on seeing the Playing XI at the toss before the fixture in Dubai.

"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," Jadeja said via Sony Sports network.

"The match is against the UAE. No disrespect because I have seen their captain, [Muhammad] Waseem, 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," he added.

Irfan Pathan believes otherwise

Meanwhile, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has reckoned that Bumrah should play not just against the UAE, but all the games in the Asia Cup, regardless of the opposition. Pathan believes that it is the responsibility of Bumrah, as a player, to remain committed to the team and not follow the pick-and-choose approach in playing his games or selecting the opposition.

"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," the Baroda-born said.

India squad for Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.