Follow UsFormer India batter Mohammad Kaif has offered a calm response to Jasprit Bumrah after the pacer publicly dismissed his remarks on workload management in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. Bumrah has been regularly bowling three overs in the powerplay this tournament - something unusual for him in T20 cricket. Kaif suggested this change was linked to injury concerns.
“Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in the Asia Cup, he bowled a three-over spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters, against stronger teams at the World Cup, this could hurt India,” Kaif wrote on ‘X’ after India’s win over Bangladesh on September 24.
Bumrah, however, was quick to hit back the following day: “Inaccurate before, inaccurate again (thumbs up emoji).”
Responding again, Kaif played down the exchange and reiterated his respect for India’s pace spearhead. “Please take this as a cricketing observation from a well-wisher and an admirer. You are Indian cricket's biggest match-winner and I know what it takes to give it all when on field wearing India colours,” he said.
Workload management has long been a recurring theme in Bumrah’s career, especially in the last couple of years. The fast bowler came under heavy scrutiny earlier this year for “picking and choosing” matches during India’s five-Test series in England. Before the series began, he informed the management he would only be available for three Tests.
As a result, Bumrah featured in the first, third, and fourth Tests, but sat out the second and fifth. Ironically, India lost two of the three matches he played in, while winning both the games he missed.
Bumrah is set to spearhead India’s attack in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai on September 28 (Sunday). He has also been named in the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies, starting October 2 in Ahmedabad - though there remains a possibility he could be rested for the opening game.