Follow UsWhile facing a barrage of criticism from former cricketers, Jasprit Bumrah finally found a supporter in former India Test opener Aakash Chopra, who compared the Indian pacer’s invaluableness to the Kohinoor diamond.
“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,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by the Indian Express.
The debate began ever since the end of India’s tour of England, where the Indian team rested Bumrah for two Tests, and those were the Tests that India won. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj played all five Tests and was the reason behind the series ending 2-2 instead of 3-1 in favour of England.
After Siraj’s nine-wicket haul won India the Oval Test, the murmurs of workload being a fictitious thing and used as an excuse by Bumrah surfaced. It was fanned by comments from former cricketers as well.
Now, Chopra has said that Bumrah should definitely pick and choose to be able to play crucial matches.
“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. If you have a player of that level available, play him whenever he can,” said the cricketer turned commentator.
The 47-year-old also suggested that since Bumrah is a bowler, he is bound to get rotated and hence, his skipping two of the five Tests, once in a while, shouldn’t be a matter of life and death.
“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 wouldn’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,” said Chopra.
Multiple reports claimed that Bumrah, after missing the Oval Test, has already made himself available for the Asia Cup 2025.