India will begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday and both Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah are anticipated to make a comeback in the T20I setup. Gill's inclusion is being heavily debated as he is expected to open the innings, which may push Sanju Samson out of the playing XI.
In the case of Bumrah, his workload remains a major focus as it became a hot topic during the recently-concluded England Test series, where he skipped matches to maintain his fitness. Bumrah had a stress fracture in his back during the Australia tour earlier this year, which prevented him from taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy.
The Asia Cup now serves a good opportunity for the management to pin down a squad with focus on the fast approaching T20 World Cup, which is reported to be played in February-March next year. Hence the inclusion of Bumrah and Gill is understandable but the way the management handles the premier pacer still remains in spotlight, considering India have a number of ODIs, Tests, and T20Is lined-up.
Ajay Jadeja, former India batter, is not enthused by the idea of Bumrah starting against UAE in their first match. "What is the need to play Bumrah, man? Usually, you keep him wrapped in cotton wool. Ab UAE ke against bhi tumhe Bumrah chahiye? (Now you need Bumrah even against the UAE?) Either don't protect him at all, or if you need to preserve him, then do it in this type of match. Logic dictates that, but we never do things with logic," Ajay Jadeja noted while speaking on Sony Sports Network.
"The match is against the UAE. No disrespect because I have seen their captain, [Muhammad] Wasim, and the talent he possesses. You cannot rank any team, but this is a T20 World Cup-winning Team India. Hence, I am clear. If Bumrah plays tomorrow, I am going on strike.”
Irfan Pathan, who was also part of the interaction, however, emphasised that Bumrah should play, reminding his old take on the workload chatter surrounding the pacer. "You need to protect Bumrah, I understand. But what my opinion is, and I have said this during the England tour as well, is that if you have come to play a series, then you have to play it completely. You have not come into a series for recovery or management, you have come to play. You will obviously think depending on the opposition, but when you pick up the momentum, you cannot let it slip.
"Bumrah, Arshdeep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel can be your bowlers. And then all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube at No. 7 and 8. If we have to bat till No. 8, there is no room for Kuldeep Yadav."
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