Sanjay Manjrekar has said that Jasprit Bumrah must play the fourth Test against England at Manchester, saying India can’t afford to rest him after the Lord’s loss. He said plans to rest Jasprit Bumrah in alternating Tests doesn’t make sense.
Just 47 Tests and 89 ODIs to go along with 245 T20 games, and Jasprit Bumrah is already in the conversation to be one of the greatest all-format bowlers ever. Jasprit Bumrah has displayed mastery over a wide oeuvre of skills across situations and conditions, with the red ball and white, especially after his return from injury in 2023.
Much has been said about Jasprit Bumrah’s unique action, heavy with hyperextension in his bowling arm, and his abnormal release point, about 50 centimetres closer to the batter than other top bowler’s releases. In all this, his wizardry with the seam is seldom discussed. Jasprit Bumrah puts more revs on his backspinning pace-on deliveries than most fast bowlers do, and this has a multitude of effects.
Yes, he bowls at a good pace, hits the good length like a machine, and plans and delivers his multiple variations almost perfectly. But the action his wrist imparts on the seam, almost imperceptibly, adds layers of difficulty on top of his extremely strong fundamentals.
The Indian cricket team faces a do-or-die situation in the five-match Test series against England, one decision that still hangs in air is whether Jasprit Bumrah will be included in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Jasprit Bumrah has been the bowler who delivers crucial breakthroughs for India. If Shubman Gill and Co. want to bounce back from the heartbreaking defeat at Lord’s in the third Test, Jasprit Bumrah needs to play.
In such high-pressure situations, teams look to their match-winners, and Jasprit Bumrah is one such player. Jasprit Bumrah’s capacity to break partnerships, hit early with the new ball, and bowl game-changers makes him indispensable when the pressure is greatest.With England already leading in the series 2-1, the fourth Test is a virtual do-or-die match for India. A defeat would hand over the series to the hosts and at this crucial juncture Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion becomes more vital for the Indian team.
Jasprit Bumrah’s impressive performances in ENG vs IND series.
Jasprit Bumrah returned to Test cricket much like he had left it—leading the Indian attack and posing the biggest threat with the ball. Coming back from a stress reaction in his previously operated back, there had been serious concerns about whether he had been overbowled and how well he would recover. But at Headingley, Jasprit Bumrah quickly put those doubts to rest, once again establishing himself as the standout bowler on the field.
Jasprit Bumrah once again underlined why he is considered the best fast bowler in the world at present, producing a masterful five-wicket haul to hand India a slender edge in the opening Test against England at Headingley. Jasprit Bumrah introduced England to the best of his skills with the fifer.
Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s pace backbone and has performed very well in the two Tests he has played till now. Overall, he has 12 wickets in 2 matches (4 innings) with an average of approximately 21. In the 1st Test, he took 5 wickets by giving away 83 runs in the first innings. In the 2nd Test he played at Lord’s, he took 5 wickets in the first innings and 2 in the second innings. Jasprit Bumrah completely rattled England’s batting order, and he has been India’s most effective bowler.
Following his talks about the workload maangement many had a believe that with the series on the line for Team India Jasprit Bumrah missing the all important 4th Test at Manchester could be the huge blow for the otherwise young Indian bowling line up and with this view in mind Former Indian batter now commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has made a point that in any case Jasprit Bumrah should play the all important 4th Test Match at Manchester.
I will be shocked if Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t play 4th Test match- Sanjay Manjrekar
Former Indian batter now commentator weighed in on the importance of Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the rest of the Test series and suggested that India’s pace spearhead should feature in the remaining two Tests against England. Ahead of the Test tour of England, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir had announced that Bumrah will only play three of the five games in the series as part of workload management.
It meant that Bumrah played in Tests at Headingley and Lord’s, while being rested from the Edgbaston game. But with a week’s gap between third and fourth Tests, Jasprit Bumrah might just play in the Test at Old Trafford, starting on July 23, as India aim to equalise the series scoreline after a 22-run loss at Lord’s.
Speaking on EspnCricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar said he would be in for a massive shock if Jasprit Bumrah opts out of the 4th Test at Edgbaston citing importance the speedster has in this series instilling fear in the opposition camp.
“There is no point in resting for this one and then losing the series and coming in for the final one. Plus, the ideal gap too. The first Test match, when he bowled in the second innings, he looked a little jaded and flat. You felt that he’s feeling the load. Here [at Lord’s], he was very keen to bowl that final spell as well. He bowled a slightly longer spell because he knew there was a big gap.”
“The first time I was surprised when he didn’t play the second Test, but this one, I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t play,” the 60-year-old added.
The fourth Test begins in Manchester on 23 July, eight days after the Lord’s Test concluded. However, the fifth and final Test at The Oval starts just three days after the fourth, on 31 July. It remains to be seen whether Bumrah and the Indian team management will reconsider their workload strategy. If India level the series in Manchester, will they risk leaving out their ace bowler for the decider in London
Bumrah had previously pushed himself to play all five matches of the 2024–25 Border–Gavaskar Trophy. He dismantled Australia’s batting line-up throughout the series, but a recurring back injury flared up during the first innings of the final Test. His absence for most of the Sydney Test proved costly, as India missed a golden opportunity to level the series.
Bumrah subsequently missed the Champions Trophy and only returned to action during the 2025 IPL season. After the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India are next slated to play a Test series against a visiting West Indies team at home in October before facing South Africa at home in November.
Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion in the playing XI tends to change the psychological equation automatically. English batters, and especially the top order, have found it challenging against him in the past. Jasprit Bumrah’s very name in the team sheet compels the opposition to plan differently and quite often defensively, which could determine the course of the match before a single ball is bowled.
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