Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru and India batter Mohammad Kaif has hit out at Jasprit Bumrah’s critics following Team India’s squad announcement for the 2025 Asia Cup. With that, the former cricketer defended the pacer weeks after insensitive fans claimed that India won both their Tests because the star pacer didn’t feature in them.
Notably, the Shubman Gill-led side settled for a 2-2 draw in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. India won the second and fifth Tests in Edgbaston and the Oval by 336 runs and 6 runs, respectively. Bumrah was rested for these two games to manage his workload. Kaif wants Bumrah to be an integral part of the white-ball team. The cricketer-turned commentator expressed his gratitude that Bumrah is part of the India squad for the 2025 Asia Cup. He said the speedster needs to bowl four overs per game, and added that he can be rested against weaker teams. This will be Bumrah’s first T20I game after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Mohammad Kaif speaks about Jasprit Bumrah’s critics.Â
Speaking on his You Tube channel, Mohammad Kaif said: “Open your mouth carefully because you mentioned that whatever matches we played in England, we lost when he played. You better look at how many matches he has played and India won them, go and find out that as well, regardless of the format. When he plays, how many times does he give match-winning performances? Go and find that stat as well. Bumrah is a promising diamond of India. You don’t report him. There are no stains on him.”Â
Kaif added: “I already said that Bumrah might not be seen playing long in Tests, but in white-ball cricket, if India comes in the Asia Cup final, then he might play seven games. He will bowl 28 overs, and I am speaking about a two or three-week-long tournament. There is no problem in bowling 28 overs; he will get time to recover. You can rest him in one odd match against Oman or weaker teams. After workload management and a break, he will be used. I think he won’t face any issues in bowling four overs. You need Bumrah in T20 because he can change the course of the game with his bowling.”
Mohammad Kaif expresses disappointment in not seeing Mohammed Siraj in Asia Cup squad.Â
Mohammad Kaif further expressed disappointment at Mohammed Siraj missing out on a place in the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025. Kaif pointed out that Siraj bagged 16 wickets in the IPL 2025 season. While crediting the Hyderabad pacers for his heroics in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, he urged the selectors to use his red hot form. Kaif’s remarks came as Siraj emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the five-match series, bagging 23 wickets.
In the same video, Mohammad Kaif said: “There is no Mohammed Siraj as well in India squad for 2025 Asia Cup and he will be missed because of the form he was in, the way he bowled in England, bowled longer spells in each game. By bowling that much, you have the bowling form. He plays IPL and picked up wickets as well. If you see, he is bowling exceedingly well in the first 10-12 matches. So, I am surprised he was not in the 20-member side.”
He further added: “I am disappointed because he finished the series 2-2 on his own. We know how well he bowled, and when you have the form, you want to back that bowler, and that’s why I am disappointed not to see him in the Asia Cup. He is an equally brilliant bowler even in white-ball cricket.”
Mohammed Siraj last played a T20I game against Sri Lanka in July 2024. The 31-year-old has managed to pick up 14 wickets in 16 games at an economy rate of 7.79. In IPL, Siraj has 109 wickets in 108 matches at an economy rate of 8.73.
It remains to be seen how things go from here and how Bumrah’s workload is managed in Asia Cup 2025. The criticism towards him was unfair and Kaif mentioned that and rightly so. Yes, he may be rested against weaker teams, but in the main games India will need a Jasprit Bumrah to fire as he is lethal in T20s. Siraj being rested is more due to workload management with Test matches coming up. We shall see how things unfold in the Asia Cup 2025.
Also Read:Â Asia Cup 2025: Shreyas Iyer Deserves Comeback In T20I Squad Reckons Aakash Chopra.