A report has claimed that BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir will decide whether Jasprit Bumrah will feature in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in September, or will continue to rest and feature in later series.
After playing his allotted three Test matches in the five-match series against England, pace leader Jasprit Bumrah was released from the national team on Friday. In three games, the 31-year-old Bumrah bowled 119.4 overs and claimed 14 wickets.
But for the first time in his career, Bumrah gave up more than 100 runs in a single innings at Manchester. In 48 Test matches, Bumrah has now claimed 219 wickets.
"Jasprit Bumrah has been released from India's squad for the fifth Test of the series against England," BCCI announced in a release on Friday.
Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the selection committee, had stated before India left that the speed ace would only play three Test matches to manage his workload. Indian team management has already begun talking about its next international assignment.
Given that the next Test series against the West Indies would begin less than a week after the Asia Cup event in the United Arab Emirates, it would be surprising if Bumrah chose to participate in the continental tournament, India's next international assignment.
The first Test match against the West Indies will begin in Ahmedabad on October 2, and the second match will take place in New Delhi from October 10–14. The Asia Cup will end on September 29. Then, there are two Test matches against South Africa in November.
"It will be a tricky call, but Bumrah loves Test cricket and there are World Test Championship points at stake. As far as T20 is concerned, he can play the series against New Zealand in January, which will be a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup.
If Bumrah plays the Asia Cup and suppose India plays the final, no way he can play against the West Indies at Ahmedabad. Obviously, the question arises, do you need Bumrah against the West Indies, or should he play Asia Cup after a month's break and play the two Tests against South Africa. That call, Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir will have to take," a BCCI source told PTI.
The report also mentioned that Bumrah is not expected to play many ODIs till the T20 World Cup at home.
(PTI inputs)
