As India prepares to face the United Arab Emirates in their Asia Cup 2025 opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a heated discussion has erupted over whether Jasprit Bumrah, the star pacer, should be included in the playing XI. Former India cricketers Ajay Jadeja and Irfan Pathan have presented opposing viewpoints on the matter, sparking debate among fans and analysts.
Jadeja argues that Bumrah should be rested for the match against the UAE, an associate nation. He stated, “What is the need to play Bumrah tomorrow, man? Usually, you keep him wrapped in cotton wool. Ab UAE ke against bhi tumhe Bumrah chahiye? (Now you need Bumrah even against the UAE?) Either don’t protect him at all, or if you need to preserve him, then do it in this type of match.” Jadeja believes the rest of the Indian bowling attack can handle UAE’s batting lineup. He emphasized the importance of managing Bumrah’s workload, considering his history of injuries. He added, “This is a T20 World Cup-winning Team, India. Hence, I am clear. If Bumrah plays tomorrow, I am going on strike,” underlining his preference for prioritizing player fitness.
Pathan, on the other hand, believes Bumrah should play in all matches. He stated, “You need to protect Bumrah, I understand. But what my opinion is… if you have come to play a series, then you have to play it completely. You have not come into a series for recovery or management, you have come to play.” He thinks Bumrah should be available for all games, including those considered less challenging. The debate highlights the broader challenge of managing star players’ workloads while maintaining a winning team. With the Asia Cup as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming T20 World Cup, team management’s decisions on player rotation will be closely scrutinized.