ENG vs IND 2025: Bumrah’s hype is massive but India do not depend on him anymore, says Monty Panesar

Former English cricketer Monty Panesar felels that India's reliance on Jasprit Bumrah has reduced over time. This comes after India's two victories in the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy came in the absence of Bumrah. Panesar opined that Prasidh Krishna could very well open the bowling in Tests alongside Mohammed Siraj. 

“This Indian team does not depend on Bumrah anymore. Bumrah’s hype is absolutely massive, but let’s be honest, India have a strong bowling attack. Krishna is getting better and better with every Test match. I think he can open the bowling with Siraj. They just need a third seamer, Akash Deep or Arshdeep Singh or someone else," stated Panesar, as quoted by Mid-Day. 

The 43-year-old recommended the management to build the bowling attack around Siraj with the right-arm speedster as the backbone of the unit.

"Of course, Bumrah is a good bowler, but he wasn’t part of the matches that India won [in this series]. So, I don’t think they depend on him as much. Siraj utilised the conditions really well. He’s a huge asset for Indian cricket. I think he leads the attack now and India need to build the attack around him, added Panesar.

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Siraj emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets in nine innings while averaging 32.43. He secured the Player of the Match award after India emerged victorious by six runs at The Oval to level the series.

Siraj and Prasidh registered career-best match figures of 9/190 (4/86 and 5/104) and 8/188 (4/62 and 4/126), respectively. Their fiery pace bowling was one of the major reasons why the Shubman Gill-led team ended up retaining the title.

Siraj has been showered with immense praise for his relentless endurance in running in to bowl irrespective of the amount of bowlers he has bowled at any particular instance. He bowled a grand total of 185.3 overs throughout the five games.