Sanjay Manjrekar attacked by ex-India star for criticizing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management

Former Team India opener Aakash Chopra has defended Jasprit Bumrah after Sanjay Manjrekar criticized the pacer’s workload management in Test cricket. Chopra called Bumrah India’s “Kohinoor” and added that the 31-year-old bowler should be allowed to pick his rest days without moral judgment.

Bumrah played three of the five Tests during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. It was earlier decided that he would rest to manage his workload and reduce injury risk. He featured in the first, third, and fourth Tests. The pacer missed the second Test and was released after the fifth Test began.

During the series, Bumrah bowled 119.4 overs, taking 14 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls. However, his workload management drew criticism from former Indian cricketers.

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Jasprit Bumrah Is Going to Pick and Choose - Aakash Chopra

Sanjay Manjrekar criticized India’s handling of Jasprit Bumrah’s workload during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He stated that the team should not be built around Bumrah and that the pacer should not be considered a ‘frontline’ pick.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra opened up about whether Jasprit Bumrah should retire from Tests to focus on white-ball cricket. He said that India should utilize a player of his caliber whenever he is available.

“I will be honest, I don’t think he will play all the Test matches. He is going to pick and choose. Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s not a moral or ethical debate, is what I think. If you have a player of that level available, play him whenever he can," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Don’t Push Him Forcibly Towards Early Retirement - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra said that bowlers are naturally rotated during a Test series. He added that Jasprit Bumrah’s absence didn’t disrupt the team. Chopra described Bumrah as “the Kohinoor diamond” and urged that he should not be pushed into early retirement.

“Jasprit Bumrah, as a bowler, you can adjust the bowling combination very easily. It doesn’t make a difference. If Bumrah had been a batter, a No. 4 or an opener, and had said that he would play two matches and won’t play after that, then it’s a problem. Bowlers need to be rotated in any case in a series of three or four Tests," Chopra said.

“There is no bowler like Bumrah. Don’t push him forcibly towards early retirement because he is 24-carat pure gold. He is the Kohinoor diamond. The longer he plays, the better it is. I don’t think he will play too much Test cricket, but for however long he plays, I would say hold onto it," he added.

Jasprit Bumrah Hasn’t Featured in a White-Ball Match for India Since June 2024

Jasprit Bumrah has not featured in a white-ball match for India since the T20 World Cup 2024 final in Barbados, where he took 2 wickets for 18 runs as India clinched their second T20 World Cup. He also missed the Champions Trophy earlier in 2025 due to a back injury, but returned for IPL 2025.

The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, are expected to announce India’s squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format from September 9 to 28.

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai, face Pakistan at the same venue on September 14, and conclude the group stage with a match against Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

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