'You can’t pick and choose your matches...' - former India skipper slams workload management of Jasprit Bumrah

Mohammad Azharuddin is actually not pleased about Jasprit Bumrah's workload management issue. The former India skipper said that when someone commits to playing for the country, then they have to be ready to play in any condition. Before the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced that Bumrah would play in 3 out of 5 matches. Bumrah in reality played in the first, third, and fourth matches of the series and missed out on the series decider fifth match, where Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled well to claim a much-needed win. Azharuddin slammed the Indian team management for not picking up Jasprit Bumrah for crucial matches of the series. 

"If there is an injury issue, then the Board and the player have to decide. However, I feel once you are in the team, you can’t pick and choose your matches. There is a workload, but at this level, you have to manage it. You are playing for the country. It was a different story that Siraj, along with Prasidh (Krishna) and Akash Deep, rose to the occasion, and we were fortunate that we could win without Bumrah, but what happens if India needs Bumrah badly in a particular situation?" The former cricketer raised the question during an interview. 

Bumrah took a couple of five-fors in the series during the first and third tests, where, on both occasions, the brigade in blue left the fields as the losing team. In those three matches against England, the 31-year-old bagged 14 wickets at an average of 26. 

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'Siraj is the new superstar'

Azharuddin did not forget to praise Mohammed Siraj for his brilliant match-winning spell at The Oval. The right-arm pacer finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series by taking 23 wickets in five matches at an average of 32.43. For the former India international, Siraj is now a superstar of Indian cricket. 

"That spell at the Oval was incredible. He took on the responsibility admirably in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He came hard at the England batters and bowled with a lot of intensity. He is clearly the new superstar of Indian sport," he added.