Jasprit Bumrah featured in only three of the five Tests during the ENG vs IND series, a move that earned praise from teammate Ajinkya Rahane for its smart workload management. In the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, the senior pacer followed the pre-series advice to limit his participation to three matches. He played the first Test at Headingley, the third at Lord’s, and the fourth in Manchester.
Bumrah delivered impressive performances, claiming 14 wickets at an average of 26.0, including five-wicket hauls in both the first and third Tests. However, India lost both those matches. The series eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.
Ajinkya Rahane Praises Jasprit Bumrah’s Workload Management Call
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ajinkya Rahane revealed he was impressed with how Bumrah informed the management in advance about his plan to feature in only three matches of the series.
“What I liked about the Bumrah situation was that he was very clear. He knew exactly what he wanted before the series began. He said, ‘I’ll play the first one, I won’t play the second one, and then I’ll play the third,’” Ajinkya Rahane said.
He further noted that such honesty can sometimes cost players their place in the team.
Ajinkya Rahane, “For a captain, that kind of clarity is great. It takes courage to openly tell the captain and management your plan. Sometimes, players convey the same thing and end up getting dropped,” he added.
Bumrah’s decision came on the advice of the medical team and doctors, following the intense workload he carried during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The pacer suffered an injury after the series and underwent rehabilitation, which also forced him to miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February–March.