Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup because of a back injury. It surely is a big setback for the Indian team who are struggling with their bowling. His action is such that this is bound to happen now or in the future. It has happened now. Back injury is quite serious. For now, BCCI has said that he needs 6 weeks of rest but it is almost certain that he needs surgery. It can be postponed but it cannot be avoided. Be that as it may, I am pleased that he is out of the World Cup. Let me explain in Bumrah is ruled out of another important tournament again.
Ever since Bumrah made his debut for the country, he has been treated gently. He was given frequent breaks and for quite a longtime, he didn’t play a single Test in India. Precisely because of the fact that spin will be the preferred mode of attack on Indian soil and as such it is not worth playing Bumrah. On such surfaces he will be required to bend his back. Poor Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma toiled hard on these wickets but were overlooked on wickets that suited the faster bowlers. Not that I am complaining. They didn’t utilise their chances but it shows how Bumrah was wrapped in cotton wool throughout his career.
He is always wrapped in cotton wool
The selectors, BCCI and the team management did not wanted to exert Bumrah way too much so that his career can be prolonged. It was a noble thought but it has its own drawbacks. Bumrah’s action is such that he is likely to be injured. That is the reason he was treated so warmly by everyone concerned. It was the reason he was allowed to skip games for India as and when he wishes. During the England tour of India in the early half of 2021, Bumrah bowled just 2 overs in the game at Ahmedabad. He promptly asked to be rested for the 4th test. The team management obliged. Would he have done the same while playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL? That is the whole bloody point.
Rohit is as much a culprit as Bumrah is
A Bumrah whose action is thought to be problematic and whose action is likely to lead to injuries and who for that precise reason was rested from half of Indian games, is allowed to play in every IPL game regardless of it being an inconsequential game or a live one. Ironically, it is the current Indian captain who made Bumrah play in every game. Far too long, there is always this suspicion of Mumbai players not playing upto their capacity while playing for the country but are always over eager when they play for Mumbai. This was even confirmed by Sanjay Manjrekar in his autobiography. As if to prove Manjrekar correct, Rohit Sharma is at it again. Ofcourse, Bumrah is not from Maharashtra but he has spent most of his career playing in the IPL for Mumbai.
“Honestly, coming back after a couple of months, a back injury can be tricky,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation on September 23. “So, we just have to give him more time. I am not going to analyse too much about how he bowled – it was good to see him on the park … Slowly and steadily he is coming back to his rhythm, that’s what he’s been talking about when he is bowling in the nets as well. So it was good to see him on the park, bowling full throttle.”
It was the same Rohit who a few years ago when he replied to a reporter’s question of whether he will rest Bumrah during the IPL before an important series, Rohit said that there was no way he will rest Bumrah.
My response to Vijayakumar Alagappan
This is what I responded to Vijayakumar the owner of the website 12thkhiladi where he suggested on Twitter that no tournament is worth sacrificing Bumrah
A world cup is a trophy worth sacrificing anyone. How come despite playing in only half the games for India, he is injured? On the otherhand, he ends up playing all the games in IPL for 10 years? Why is he being treated as a special player despite failing to bowl India to victory while defending targets in the 4th innings? He got 5 opportunities in 2 years and utterly failed in all of them. I am pleased that he is out of the World Cup. He is overrated. Let him retire and play IPL forever.
Wrapping up Bumrah is ruled out of another important tournament again
It really is a shame that the Indian cricketers and a lot of the supporters have got the their priorities wrong. Playing for the nation must be given top priority. For someone like Bumrah who is likely to be laid low because of injury, he must be prevented from playing in inconsequential IPL games or better still, he must be barred from playing in IPL from time to time.
Bumrah has tweeted that he is gutted for missing out of the squad for the World Cup. When I read that, I can only chuckle within myself. This guy didn’t really mean it. Has Bumrah really repaid the faith of the Indian selectors and the team management when it comes to crunch situations? I am afraid the answer is a big fat No.
I have said this before. Bumrah’s days a fast running out. He is yet to play a meaningful role in Indian series wins. He has already lost 5 opportunities of winning Test and series outside India. Twice in South Africa, one in New Zealand, the WTC finals of 2021 and the 5th Test against England at Edgbaston. He runs the risk of becoming a tragic hero. Is Bumrah willing to listen? Does he have the yearning to go down in history as India’s best match winner or does he want to go down as an also-ran? It is something only he can decide.
