“Workload management merchant takes rest in series decider”: Jasprit Bumrah blasted for skipping Oval Test

In a shocking move ahead of the must-win fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, India has decided to rest their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, leaving fans fuming. As India fights to level the five-match Test series against England, the decision to bench Jasprit Bumrah has sparked outrage on social media.

Prasidh Krishna has returned to the playing XI in place of Bumrah, and the timing could not have been worse than ever, as India is eyeing winning the final Test against England at The Oval to deny the hosts clinching the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Fans slam India's risky call to rest Jasprit Bumrah for must-win Test at The Oval

Many fans lashed out at the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for selecting Bumrah in a five-match Test series, given the history of his injuries, if he couldn’t play the maximum number of games, at least the crucial ones.

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Some even criticized Bumrah himself for skipping playing back-to-back games during such a crucial moment. The Indian think tank had already made it clear that the pacer would play only three tests on the England tour, and he had already played in the first, third, and fourth tests.

However, many felt that if the series is on the line, then there is no point to rest their key weapon in the name of workload management. Since there is no match for India in August as of now, fans are angry with the team for resting Bumrah when they are looking to level the Test series at The Oval.

Here's how fans react to India's bold move:

Indian selectors should not select Jasprit Bumrah for a 5 Test match series.

— Ravishankar Kumar (@Ravishankar1803) July 31, 2025

Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing in this crucial Test Match at the Oval? #INDvsENG #cricket pic.twitter.com/asFdgfU3wK

— Prashanth പ്രശാന്ത്🙏 (@randadath) July 31, 2025

Prasidh Krishna is Jasprit Bumrah's replacement. 🙏🙏 Please don't ruin our team Gambhir and Shubman Gill. We need accountability from Ajit Agarkar too. #OvalTest

— TANYA (@tanitiwari16) July 31, 2025

Workload management merchant Jasprit Bumrah takes rest in series decider.

Waste of space Karun Nair comes back cuz no other option.

Arshdeep Singh n Kuldeep Yadav wasted by defensive coach Gautam Gambhir and timid captain Shubman Gill.

Worst management ever with Ajit Agarkar.

— Maddy (@EvilRashford) July 31, 2025

- Never took unnecessary breaks
- Have bowled the most no of overs
- Comes to bowl on flat tracks
- Doesn't care about his avg, team first
- Always underrated but his work is exceptional
- Always creates chances but luck doesn't favor him

Mohammed Siraj >>> Jasprit Bumrah any… pic.twitter.com/4LJJ1BPf2j

— Honest Cricket Lover (@Honest_Cric_fan) July 31, 2025

Last opportunity for Karun Nair to perform. Although the weather is not suitable to bat, he has to cash this opportunity. Jasprit Bumrah should've played, Prasiddh Krishna is not that aggressive bowler. Akashdeep is a pure hope. #INDVsENGLive #ENGvsIND #KarunNair #Akashdeep #Gill pic.twitter.com/xj5S18dLr6

— Shankar Singh (@Shanky_Parihar) July 31, 2025

#INDvsEND#INDvsENG #ENGvsIND

With No #RishabhPant #JaspritBumrah #BenStokes #JofraArcher
Excitement for 5th test match has reduced drastically 😌

— Khan (@Khanmohammed12) July 31, 2025

India XI: Rahul, Jaiswal, Sai, Gill, Karun, Jurel, Jadeja, Washington, Akashdeep, Siraj, Prasidh.
no #JaspritBumrah
Going with 8 batsmen almost. Too Defensive? Even when England is without #BenStokes & #jofraarcher #INDvsENGTest #INDvsENG2025 #ENGvsIND #ENGvINDTest #OvalTest pic.twitter.com/7GZ7xavknj

— Sumit Ghosh (@SumitG71) July 31, 2025

To what extent is it right to rest #JaspritBumrah Bumrah in such an important match?#AskStar @BCCI @parthiv9

— Sandeep Singh🇮🇳🚩 (@sandeepal2050) July 31, 2025

Team India will feel uncomfortable without Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah #askstar @JioHotstar @HotstarReality

— Dr Sandeep Nayak (@sinku_rathore) July 31, 2025

It's high time to find the replacement of jasprit bumrah in tests, consistency in the squad is important too pic.twitter.com/e6gBKACSaf

— skidzz (@SkidzWicket) July 31, 2025

Jasprit Bumrah Not Playing in IND vs ENG 5th Test 2025 💔#Jaspritbumrah𓃵 pic.twitter.com/IOmJyycdwG

— 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐓 ⁹³🐐 (@BUMRAHTHEGOAT93) July 31, 2025

Starc turns up in every battle, no fuss, no drama. Bumrah? Plays a match, vanishes in the name of ‘workload.’ Comparing the two is pure disrespect.

— SahiL (@darsahil019) July 31, 2025

Workload management merchant Jasprit Bumrah takes rest in series decider.

Waste of space Karun Nair comes back cuz no other option.

Arshdeep Singh n Kuldeep Yadav wasted by defensive coach Gautam Gambhir and timid captain Shubman Gill.

Worst management ever with Ajit Agarkar.

— Maddy (@EvilRashford) July 31, 2025

This is really disappointing to see bumrah not playing crucial match, work load can be handled during match by 4-5 overs per spell. What’s the point of been there if you can’t play crucial match, he should consider 5-6 matches in ipl for workload

— Hardikk kaushall (@iamhk1410) July 31, 2025

Where is Bumrah ... ?
Series ka sabse important match hai , Bumrah kyue nahi hai ???
Is he Unfit ? Or workload?
After England series, next 40 days koi cricket nahi hai -- firbhi workload..

— Rajib Chakraborty (@slg10143) July 31, 2025

Earlier, there were reports that the BCCI’s medical team suggested the Indian think tank avoid playing Bumrah in the final Test against England, as he was coming off from his back injury that he sustained on the Australia tour and missed the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

However, Bumrah played in the IPL 2025 regularly after missing the start of the tournament, but they felt that Test is a different game. But the captain, Shubman Gill, has not mentioned anything about the medical or fitness condition of the star fast bowler at the toss.

He simply mentioned Prasidh Krishna came into the XI for Bumrah.

Read Also: Shubman Gill loses 5 tosses in a row, India left helpless in England

Playing XIs for the fifth and final Test

India's Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

England's Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue