Overview:
India's win-loss record without Bumrah might suggest a better return, but that’s deceptive. Most of those victories have come in home conditions, aided by spinning tracks where pacers are not as influential.
Jasprit Bumrah is India’s gold dust. There’s no sugarcoating that. His uncanny ability to create magic out of nothing and rattle batters across formats has been central to India’s recent rise in world cricket. He was the spearhead in India’s triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, picking up the Player of the Tournament award and sealing the final with a defining Man of the Match performance. Ever since his debut, he has been India’s franchise player in all three formats. But there is now a growing sense of urgency for the selectors and team management to reassess his role in Indian cricket. While his effectivity when he plays is unparalleled, his efficiency has been steadily declining. Injuries and long breaks have reduced his playtime, and it is beginning to cost India at critical junctures.
In the recently concluded 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which India won under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah was absent due to injury. It was a massive void to fill. And now, in the five-Test series against England, he was rested from two games. It is time for Indian cricket to have a hard conversation. Jasprit Bumrah needs to retire from at least one format, if not two.
Here are five reasons why.
1) Workload Management
Bumrah’s unorthodox action and explosive release make him one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in the world. But that very action also makes him injury-prone. Most of his recurring injuries stem from overuse and workload mismanagement. India play an enormous amount of cricket across formats. Expecting a bowler with such a delicate physical template to keep performing in all three formats is both unrealistic and irresponsible. His body simply cannot sustain the grind. Instead of repeatedly pulling out of series or tournaments midway, it would be far more pragmatic for him to commit to two formats and give them his all. By doing so, he can prolong his career and continue to deliver match-winning performances without compromising his body or the team’s continuity.
2) When He Plays, He Wins You Matches
India’s win-loss record without Bumrah might suggest a better return, but that’s deceptive. Most of those victories have come in home conditions, aided by spinning tracks where pacers are not as influential. The real measure of Bumrah’s worth is in overseas conditions. 2018 at Lord’s, 2024 in Perth, and Cape Town the same year, he was unplayable, bending matches in India’s favour. His seam control, reverse swing mastery, and knack for breaking partnerships make him a generational talent. But imagine if that quality was focused into just one or two formats. We would not just get a match winner but a consistent force who could maintain peak physical and mental shape.
This diluted presence across formats hampers his rhythm and the team’s strategy. In short, when Bumrah plays, he wins you matches. But he doesn’t play enough. And that’s the problem.
3) Sets a Wrong Precedence
India prides itself on a culture of merit and commitment. But continuing to accommodate a player who picks and chooses when to play, despite being fully contracted, sets a poor example for the rest of the team. It makes players believe that star status entitles you to different rules. Contrast this with Australia, who dropped World Cup and WTC winning captain Pat Cummins in T20s to give Nathan Ellis a run. That’s a ruthless yet forward thinking setup that prioritises form and format specific performance.
Bumrah has already opted out of captaincy discussions citing workload and fitness concerns. If he cannot fully commit to leadership and availability, then his role as a core three format player needs immediate re evaluation. The BCCI must address this with courage and clarity.
4) Drop in Efficiency
Bumrah’s effectiveness is never under question. But what about his efficiency? In the last World Test Championship cycle, he bowled 410 overs, the most by any Indian fast bowler. However, when injured or not at his peak, his spells tend to become less threatening. During such phases, his presence affects the confidence and performance of the rest of the attack.
Take Mohammed Siraj for example. His numbers are notably better when he plays without Bumrah. Siraj thrives as the lead pacer, but when Bumrah plays at half strength or is constantly under rehab watch, the overall bowling unit loses bite. Batters stop playing on survival mode and begin to manage spells more comfortably, especially when Bumrah isn’t operating at his full throttle.
India cannot afford to carry a player, even a premium one, who swings in and out of form and fitness every few months. The opposition adjusts, the team balance shifts, and the rhythm breaks.
5) Time to Build Format Specific Teams
Every great team evolves by refreshing its roster and preparing for the future. The Indian team is no exception. With an abundance of fast bowling talent like Anshul Kambhoj, Akash Deep, Umran Malik, Harshit Rana, and the returning Prasidh Krishna, the bench strength is rich and versatile. But they need consistent game time.
By allowing Bumrah to focus solely on Test cricket or limited-overs cricket, depending on mutual discussions, India can begin crafting format-specific teams that are cohesive, fresh, and forward-looking. Bumrah, in turn, becomes the premium pace option with a clear schedule, ample rest, and enough recovery windows. This will help extend his international career and also ensure that his presence is always impactful and never half-baked.
Jasprit Bumrah has nothing left to prove. He has won matches, lifted trophies, and dominated the best batters in the world. But his fitness graph tells another story, one of constant rehab, cautious returns, and missed series. India needs his brilliance, but not in bits and pieces. The time has come to think long term. For India’s sake and his own, Jasprit Bumrah must make a difficult but essential choice, step away from one format and bring back the consistency that made him India’s golden arm.