ENG vs IND 2025: 'You can’t pick and choose your matches when you are playing for India' - Mohammad Azharuddin slams Bumrah's workload management
"Siraj was outstanding. Thanks to nalli gosht biryani and paya [which are his favourite foods], he has developed a strong body, particularly his legs," Mohammad Azharuddin said.
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Mohammad Azharuddin lambasted the Indian team management and Jasprit Bumrah for prioritising workload management during the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. India's head coach Gautam Gambhir had announced in a press conference ahead of the five-Test series that Bumrah would be playing only three games. The star pacer played the first, third, and fourth Tests in the series.
Former India skipper Azharuddin wasn't too pleased with Bumrah picking and choosing matches to play in the high-voltage series.
"If there is an injury issue, then the Board and the player has to decide. However, I feel once you are in the team, you can’t pick and choose your matches. There is workload, but at this level, you have to manage it. You are playing for the country," Azharuddin said in an interview with Mid-Day.
"It was a different story that Siraj along with Prasidh [Krishna] and Akash Deep rose to the occasion and we were fortunate that we could win without Bumrah, but what happens if India needs Bumrah badly in a particular situation?" He asked.
Bumrah took two five-fors in the series in the first and third Tests, but India lost both of them. The 31-year-old finished with 14 wickets from three matches at an average of 26.
He showed a lot of enthusiasm and energy: Azharuddin
Azharuddin praised Mohammed Siraj for his sensational performance in the series against England. The right-arm pacer finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series, accounting for 23 wickets in five matches at an average of 32.43.
"Siraj was outstanding. Thanks to nalli gosht biryani and paya [which are his favourite foods], he has developed a strong body, particularly his legs. He showed a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Throughout the series he had the hunger to excel and deliver for India," said Azharuddin.
"That spell at the Oval was incredible. He took on the responsibility admirably in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He came hard at the England batters and bowled with a lot of intensity. He is clearly the new super star of Indian sport," he added.
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The intriguing series ended 2-2 after India won the fifth and final Test match against Ben Stokes and Co. at The Oval in London by six runs. Siraj bagged a five-for in the fourth innings and won the Player of the Match award.
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