ENG vs IND 2025: 'Jasprit Bumrah should have skipped IPL 2025' - Dilip Vengsarkar's reacts after star pacer's limited availability on England tour
"It was very important that we had a fully fit and refreshed Bumrah for this iconic series [against England]," Dilip Vengsarkar said.
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Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar believes that Jasprit Bumrah should have played only a handful of matches in the Indian Premier League 2025 or skipped it altogether to remain fit for the subsequent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Bumrah played just three out of the five Tests on the tour of England as the Indian team management monitored his workload diligently.
Vengsarkar said that had he been India's chief selector, he would have had a chat with Bumrah and Mukesh Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians (MI), and urged the talismanic pacer to play only a few IPL games to be fit and raring to go on the England tour.
It is important to note that Bumrah played all five Tests against Australia in the 2024-2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he sustained a stress fracture to his back during the fifth and final Test match, which ruled him out of the subsequent Champions Trophy. Bumrah also missed the first few games in the IPL before linking up with the five-time champions.
"If I was the India chief selector, I would have convinced Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians owner) and Bumrah that it was important for Bumrah to miss the IPL for the England series, or play a lesser number of matches in the IPL. I’m sure that they would have agreed to do so," Vengsarkar told TOI.
Considering the importance of the India versus England Tests series and his fragile back, Bumrah should have been told by the BCCI, selectors and the Indian team management to miss IPL-2025. It was very important that we had a fully fit and refreshed Bumrah for this iconic series."
We must remember that Bumrah has undergone back surgery: Vengsarkar
While some fans and experts have lambasted Bumrah for picking and choosing matches on the England tour, Vengsarkar reminded everyone that the 31-year-old recently had back surgery. The 69-year-old brushed aside talk about the right-arm seamer's commitment to the nation.
Sandeep Patil lambasts Bumrah's worload management vs ENG
"You can’t blame Bumrah for missing matches at times. We must remember that Bumrah has undergone a back surgery. His back is vulnerable and we must be cautious with him. You can’t question his commitment for the country. He has given his all whenever he has played for India. I hope he returns for India after adequate rest and when fully fit," said Vengsarkar.