Chopra cautioned the Indian fans against trolling Bumrah.
Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management during the recently held Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was a major topic of debate. The Indian team management had confirmed before the England tour that star quick would only participate in three of the five Tests.
The No.1-ranked Test bowler turned up in the first, third and fourth games and was rested for the second Test, which India won by 336 runs at Edgbaston.
Despite India being down 1-2, Bumrah didn’t feature in the series-decider at The Oval, where the visitors emerged victorious by a narrow margin of six runs to level the series 2-2.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra weighed in on the debate, cautioning the Indian fans against trolling Bumrah and support workload management to ensure his longevity in crucial matches.
“There was talk about how India couldn’t find a better captain than Jasprit Bumrah. People were questioning why bowlers can’t lead, especially since he was vice-captain under Rohit Sharma and had successfully captained the team in Perth," Chopra said.
“It started with praise, but now it’s turned into trolling, with people saying the team loses when he plays and that he doesn’t take full responsibility. From being ‘Boom Boom Bumrah,’ our fans have now become ‘gumrah.’ I’m surprised and saddened by this,” he added.
Bumrah picked up 14 wickets at an average of 26 in three appearances against England, which included a couple of five-wicket hauls.
Chopra urged the Indian fans to respect Bumrah's talent. “We’re talking about a once-in-a-generation talent, someone who is far superior to the rest. Currently, he is the top bowler in the world across all formats,” he stated.
"If Bumrah plays just three matches, so be it. If managing his workload means he can continue playing in key matches without breaking down, I’d do whatever is necessary to make that happen,” he further remarked.