Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has strongly criticized the rotation policy involving star pacer Jasprit Bumrah during the ongoing five-Test series against England. Vengsarkar also questioned the role of Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, calling their decision to rest Bumrah despite his fitness “unjustifiable.”

"Play Every Match for India if You're Fit"

In a sharp interview with Revsports, Vengsarkar said:

“The most important thing is to play for Team India. If you're not fit, don't play at all. But if you are fit, you must play. Bumrah had enough rest—7 to 8 days—after the first Test. Still, he didn’t play the second match. That’s not right. Maybe Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir think otherwise, but a player of Bumrah’s calibre should play every Test when available.”

Series So Far: Bumrah’s Impact

• 1st Test (Leeds): 5 wickets in the first innings; India lost.

• 2nd Test (Edgbaston): Bumrah rested; India won.

• 3rd Test (Lord’s): Bumrah returned, took 7 wickets across both innings; India lost narrowly by 22 runs.

Despite playing only two matches, Bumrah has taken 12 wickets, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the series so far.

Strategic Rest or Missed Opportunity?

Before the series, Agarkar and Gambhir indicated that Bumrah would only feature in three out of five Tests, as part of a workload management strategy. However, Vengsarkar argues that on a critical overseas tour like this, such selective participation sends the wrong message.

“Bumrah is a match-winner. When you're on tour, you should be playing every match for the country unless you're injured. There should be no debate on that,” he said.

Bumrah Expected in Manchester Test

With the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester approaching, reports suggest that Bumrah will return to the XI, as India looks to level the series. Team India trails 2-1 in the five-match series, making the next match a must-win encounter.