'Don't push him towards early retirement': Sanjay Manjrekar slammed for comments on Jasprit Bumrah

Aakash Chopra has responded to Sanjay Manjrekar's criticism about Jasprit Bumrah, defending the pacer's selective Test match participation. The discussion emerged after Bumrah played only three out of five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, following BCCI medical team's pre-series guidelines.

Manjrekar, who had earlier supported Bumrah's captaincy candidature, changed his stance on Saturday.

He suggested that Bumrah shouldn't be considered a frontline choice if he cannot commit to all Tests in a series. He also noted that India's two Test victories in England occurred when Bumrah wasn't playing.


"I will be honest, I don't think he will play all the Test matches. He is going to pick and choose. Whether it's right or wrong, it's not a moral or ethical debate, is what I think. If you have a player of that level available, play him whenever he can," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.


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Chopra explained that bowler rotation is a common practice in lengthy Test series. He pointed out that Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna effectively filled in for Bumrah during the England series.

"Jasprit Bumrah, as a bowler, you can adjust the bowling combination very easily. It doesn't make a difference. If Bumrah had been a batter, a No. 4 or an opener, and had said that he would play two matches and won't play after that, then it's a problem. Bowlers need to be rotated in any case in a series of three or four Tests," he added.

"There is no bowler like Bumrah. Don't push him forcibly towards early retirement because he is 24-carat pure gold. He is the Kohinoor diamond. The longer he plays, the better it is. I don't think he will play too much Test cricket, but for however long he plays, I would say hold onto it."

The debate highlights the ongoing discussion about managing workload for key players in international cricket. Bumrah's situation represents a broader trend in modern cricket where players' availability is carefully managed to ensure longevity in their careers.

The BCCI medical team's involvement in planning Bumrah's participation demonstrates the structured approach to player management. This strategy aims to maintain the effectiveness and fitness of crucial players across different formats of the game.

The contrasting views between former cricketers Manjrekar and Chopra reflect the complex balance between optimal team selection and player preservation. Their discussion brings attention to the evolving nature of cricket management and player utilisation.


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