Jasprit Bumrah (Annie’s photo)
Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed his concern over the international availability of Jasprit Bumrah, saying he would like to see the star fast bowler commit more consistently to Indian cricket after his recent workload-related break.Bumrah was recently named in India’s 15-member squad for the Asian Games in Japan, where
Shreyas Iyer
He will lead the team in September. However, the spearhead has been rested for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England in June and July. The decision comes after Bumrah played 13 matches for Mumbai Indians during IPL 2026.
While acknowledging the physical demands of modern cricket, Manjrekar admitted that he struggles to understand the path Bumrah’s career is taking.
The former batsman had previously criticized the player for appearing in just three Tests during India’s five-match series against England.Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Manjrekar suggested that Bumrah could have managed the workload of the short T20I stint, especially after completing a full IPL season.“The Asian Games, those performances and those results won’t stick with you for long. Cricket is still a dual sport and the World Cup is ours.
The Olympics, when they come too, I don’t think they will have the same sanctity that they do. It would be great to win the Asian Games, but Bumrah is a special person. I’m confused as to how his career is going in terms of his availability. I posted an insta yesterday. “I thought Bumrah was the favorite to become India’s T20 captain because I thought he could handle the T20 workload,” Manjrekar said.The former cricketer went on to question Bumrah’s pattern of appearances for India, arguing that the player seems selective about the matches he prioritises.“But it seems he’s not very keen on playing every match that India plays. So here is a guy who is actually resting for India matches and keeping himself fit for some Indian matches. So, it’s a completely different approach, which I don’t understand. I just wish he would commit more to India. I can understand the workload he feels in Test cricket; 50 overs in cricket is very difficult. But given that he has played the entire Indian Premier League, I thought he would be able to handle the workload of a few T20 matches in Ireland and England,” he added.Manjrekar also revealed that he is looking at Bumrah as a prime candidate to captain the Indian T20I team. According to him, the limited availability of the fast bowler has opened the door for other players to take up leadership roles sooner than expected.Bumrah declined to captain the Test in 2025 due to workload concerns, prompting selectors to hand the role to
Shubman Gill
. Now, with Bumrah unavailable for the Ireland-England T20Is, Shreyas Iyer has been tasked with leading India in the Asian Games.“I hope he is available. He was the captain of my favorite team. He was definitely worthy of the ability and leadership qualities as well. Bumrah was not very keen on taking over the captaincy of the team. It prematurely went to other Indian players like Shubman Gill in England and now Shreyas Iyer as well,” he added.Bumrah’s recent performance has also come under scrutiny. During IPL 2026, the veteran pacer endured an unusually difficult campaign, taking just four wickets while also struggling to contain runs.Having already been rested for the T20I series against Ireland and England and omitted from Afghanistan’s ODI squad, attention will now turn to whether Bumrah will return for India’s three-match ODI series against England.