Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has openly questioned the decision to include star pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the squad for the upcoming home Test series against West Indies. Pathan termed the move a ‘missed opportunity’ to give a chance to younger fast bowlers.
Bumrah, who participated in only three of the five Tests during the recent England tour, was nonetheless named in the 15-member squad for the series, which is set to commence on October 2 in Ahmedabad. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan acknowledged Bumrah’s commitment to Test cricket but emphasized that the selectors could have used this series to explore fresh talent in the pace department.
“It really feels like a missed opportunity to not have played a young fast bowler in these two Tests, but that’s the current direction the team is taking,” Pathan stated. “If I were in a selector’s or manager’s position, I would certainly have prioritized giving a young fast bowler an opportunity, focusing on their growth rather than just immediate results. Bumrah’s dedication to Test cricket is, of course, fantastic.”
Pathan further suggested that India’s home conditions, which typically favor spinners, would have been an ideal scenario to rest Bumrah and carefully manage his demanding workload. “It’s still commendable that Bumrah considers Test cricket his priority. However, selectors could have leveraged this series to grant Bumrah some well-deserved rest and develop a budding fast bowler, which is crucial for India’s long-term cricketing vision. India needs a pool of eight strong fast bowlers, not just three or four,” he elaborated.
The former all-rounder also welcomed the return of Axar Patel, highlighting how his presence bolsters India’s batting depth. “Axar’s return significantly strengthens the team. When Axar plays alongside Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, the team’s batting lineup gains substantial depth. Does this imply that Kuldeep Yadav might be sidelined once more? I would absolutely love to see him play, but with home conditions typically accommodating only two fast bowlers, his place isn’t guaranteed,” Pathan noted.
With this series marking India’s first home Test assignments following Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, Pathan raised a pertinent question about who would inherit Ashwin’s crucial role. “Who will step up to fill that Ashwin void? While Washington Sundar possesses some valuable qualities, he doesn’t quite embody all of Ashwin’s unique traits. Jadeja provided excellent support to Ashwin, but now someone new must rise to the occasion for that pivotal role. The contenders could be Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, or even Axar Patel, each offering something distinct to the team composition,” he concluded.