Jasprit Bumrah had a very good performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, the five-Test series in England. He played three tests to manage his workload and picked 14 wickets. He picked two fifers, including one at Lord’s in the third Test.

On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj played all five tests, bowling more than 1100 balls and taking 31 wickets. To make up for Bumrah’s absence, Siraj bowled with all his heart and soul. He was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant performance in India’s six-run win in the final Test at the Oval.

But the main focus is on Jasprit Bumrah, who only participated in three Test matches because of workload management. Opinion is still divided over the choice to include him in three games.

To focus on the Test series against England, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar feels that Bumrah ought to have skipped the Mumbai Indians' 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Bumrah participated in all five of Australia's Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was disqualified from the ICC Men's Champions Trophy, nevertheless, after suffering a back spasm during the Sydney match. He then missed the Mumbai Indians' first few games as well.

But in the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he finally made his comeback. To limit his workload, Bumrah told the BCCI before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy that he would only play three Test matches against England.

“Considering the importance of the India versus England Test series and his fragile back, Bumrah should have been told by the BCCI, selectors, and the Indian team management to miss IPL-2025. It was very important that we had a fully fit and refreshed Bumrah for this iconic series.

If I were the Indian chief selector, I would have convinced Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians owner) and Bumrah that it was important for Bumrah to miss the IPL for the England series or play a lesser number of matches in the IPL. I’m sure that they would have agreed to do so,” Vengsarkar told the Times of India.

Vengsarkar believes Bumrah should have prioritized Tests, as no one really remembers the runs and wickets in the IPL.

“Who remembers the runs and wickets taken in the IPL? However, people will remember Mohammed Siraj's lion-hearted performance in this series, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant's sublime batting, and Washington Sundar's superb all-round performance,” said Vengsarkar.

Vengsarkar also believes that if Bumrah had been available for the whole match, India might have won the series. He said, though, that since he recently had back surgery, the pacer cannot be held accountable.

“It was a series for the ages, and I wish Bumrah were available for almost all the tests. We could have won the series if that had been the case. You can’t blame Bumrah for missing matches at times. We must remember that Bumrah has undergone back surgery. His back is vulnerable, and we must be cautious with him. You can’t question his commitment to the country. He has given his all whenever he has played for India. I hope he returns for India after adequate rest and when fully fit," he added.

Bumrah now has a lot of time to rest, with India’s next assignment being the Asia Cup 2025, and the next Test series will be in October at home against the West Indies.