Former India captain and batting star Ajinkya Rahane praised Jasprit Bumrah for openly declaring his playing schedule, even before the first ball was bowled.
The pacer had confirmed he would feature in only three of the five Tests, a move Rahane called “courageous” given how such honesty can backfire for players in India.
Bumrah, who suffered a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is yet to fully recover from the pain. He was sidelined until April and had missed the Champions Trophy and the start of the Indian Premier League 2025 season for Mumbai Indians.
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As a bid to protect his body from further damage, Bumrah was on his stance that he won't overexert and had given a heads up to captain Shubman Gill and the rest of the team.
What did Jasprit Bumrah decide before the series began?
Before the first Test, Bumrah had already informed the team management and selectors that he would play only three test matches of the five match series.
Across those three matches, he bowled 119.4 overs, taking 14 wickets at an average of 26. This plan was made in coordination with BCCI physios and medical staff, who felt more than three Tests in the series could put excessive strain on his body.
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Why does Ajinkya Rahane call it ‘rare courage’?
Rahane explained that in India, players who admit they cannot play every match risk being dropped.
He praised Bumrah for keeping the team’s needs above personal milestones, giving the captain and management full clarity on availability before the series began.
“What I liked about the Bumrah situation was that he was pretty clear; he knew what he wanted to do before the series," Rahane said in his YouTube channel.
“He said, ‘I’ll play the first one, I won’t play the second one, and then I’ll play the third’. Great clarity for a captain. It shows that he has the courage to tell the captain and management to be really clear," Rahane added.
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"It also shows that he is keeping the team ahead of himself. Sometimes it is not easy to do so when you are playing for India. Sometimes players convey the same message to the team, and then they get dropped," he added further.
What adjustments did Rahane suggest to manage Bumrah’s fitness?
Following the series, reports suggested the BCCI might choose to pick Bumrah only for Test series where he can play all matches.
Pointing to Bumrah’s unusual bowling action, which puts extra load on the body, Rahane recommended shorter bursts in Test matches, three or four-over spells, if India ever decides to play him across an entire five-Test series.
"Because of his unique action, there is a lot of load on his body. If you want Bumrah to play all five Tests, then use him in smaller spells like three or four overs," Rahane suggested.
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According to Rahane, England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach was toned down whenever Bumrah was in the attack. Without him, their batters played more freely.
“I think England were wary of Bumrah when he was playing; ‘Bazball’ didn’t come out to the full extent. When Bumrah wasn’t there, they played a little freely. It is important to use him properly; you have to give him the luxury to get the best out of him," he added.