• Source:JND
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India's famous win at the Kennington Oval against England helped them draw the five-match Test series 2-2. Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, India had a promising outing in England.

There has been a lot of debate going around ever since it was confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will miss the fifth and final Test due to fitness issues. Notably, Bumrah played just three matches in the series due to workload management. The star pacer has faced heavy criticism for not being available for the team in the crucial times.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has reacted to the whole scenario and came up with a suggestion that Bumrah should have been asked by the decision-makers to miss the IPL 2025 in order to remain fresh and well-rested for the all-important England tour.

"Considering the importance of the India versus England Test series and his fragile back, Bumrah should have been told by the BCCI, selectors, and the Indian team management to miss IPL 2025. It was very important that we had a fully fit and refreshed Bumrah for the iconic series. If I were the Indian chief selector, I would have convinced Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians owner) and Bumrah that it was important for Bumrah to miss the IPL for the England series, or play a lesser number of matches in the IPL. I'm sure that they would have agreed to do so.

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"Who remembers the runs and wickets taken in the IPL? However, people will remember Mohammed Siraj's lion-hearted performance in the series (23 wickets in 5 matches) Shubman Gill (754 runs in five Tests), KL Rahul (532), Yashasvi Jaiswal (411 runs) and Rishabh Pant's (479) sublime batting, and Washington Sundar's superb all-round performance (284 runs & seven wickets in four Tests).

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Ahead of the series, it was confirmed by the chief selector Ajit Agarkar that Bumrah will play just three games. Meanwhile, Bumrah took 14 wickets in the series and missed the matches at Edgbaston and the Oval, which India won.

A series like this one takes place probably once in four years. I believe India are not playing a five-Test series till Jan 2027 (against Australia). It was a series for the ages, and I wish Bumrah were available for almost all the Tests. We could have won the series if that was the case," Vengsarkar was quoted by TOI as saying.

Returning from his back issue, which forced him to miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in UAE, Bumrah played 12 matches for MI in 2025 and took 18 wickets in 47.2 overs he bowled.

Amid the ongoing social media outrage, Vengsarkar went on to disagree with Bumrah's criticism of missing Tests due to workload management issues. "You can’t blame Bumrah for missing matches at times. We must remember that Bumrah has undergone back surgery. His back is vulnerable and we must be cautious with him. You can’t question his commitment to the country. He has given his all whenever he has played for India. I hope he returns for India after adequate rest and when fully fit," he added.