By Rohit - Jul 29, 2025 05:08 PM
As the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads into a thrilling conclusion with the fifth and final Test starting Thursday, India faces a defining selection dilemma — should they play Jasprit Bumrah in a must-win match or stick to the original plan of playing him in only three Tests?
With England leading the five-match series 2-1, India must win the Manchester finale to draw level and avoid a series defeat. Bumrah, India's pace spearhead, has already completed his three-Test workload on this tour. The risk of overburdening him looms large, especially considering his injury history.
In 2021, Bumrah played all five Tests in the Australia series and suffered a stress-related back injury shortly after, missing the subsequent ICC Champions Trophy. That period of overuse has made the Indian team management more cautious about his workload management.
Former India cricketer WV Raman has weighed in, saying the final decision should depend on how Bumrah himself feels physically. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Raman emphasized that fast bowlers returning from injury need time to understand their own limits.
“It will take some time even for the bowler to understand or to realise how much workload he can take. So, I think in the case of Bumrah, it will all depend on what his body can stand. We don’t want him to break down for a longer period again because he tends to do too much work,” said Raman.
While the temptation to play Bumrah in a must-win Test is understandable, the bigger picture — especially with the ICC World Test Championship and other tournaments ahead — may demand restraint. India may have to decide whether the short-term gain is worth the long-term risk.
One possible replacement is young pacer Anshul Kamboj, who made his Test debut in the fourth Test in Manchester. Though he returned figures of 1/89, the conditions were heavily skewed in favour of batsmen, making it difficult for any bowler to make an impact.
Raman defended the rookie, saying:
“It’s very unfortunate. It has been a fantastic wicket. India scored a huge total, which means the pitch is obviously good for batting. Kamboj was perhaps unlucky, given a break on an absolute flat track. No cricketer is good or bad based on just one game.”
Other options include Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh, both of whom have shown promise in domestic and limited-overs cricket. However, the pressure of a deciding Test match might be too much for relatively inexperienced players unless the team backs them with a strong support system.
India's team management must now weigh the urgency of a win against the risk of long-term damage to their most lethal fast bowler. Jasprit Bumrah may hold the key to India’s chances in Manchester, but preserving him for future battles may prove wiser.
As the cricket world watches closely, the decision to play or rest Bumrah could define not just the series outcome — but also India’s future Test ambitions.
Also Read: IND vs ENG 5th test: Indian batsmen who scored a Test century at the Oval
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