Jasprit Bumrah’s sudden exit before the final Test against England sparked speculation—and now, fresh reports hint at a bigger decision looming. According to BCCI sources, India’s ace pacer may not feature in the Asia Cup 2025, which kicks off on September 9, with the final slated for September 29.

Why Might Bumrah Miss the Asia Cup?

The reason is workload management—again. Just three days after the Asia Cup final, India faces West Indies in a Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, from October 2 to 6.

A BCCI official told PTI:

“If Bumrah plays the Asia Cup and India reaches the final, it becomes difficult for him to play the West Indies Test just 3 days later. A choice must be made—Asia Cup or Test cricket.”

Bumrah’s Preference: Tests Over T20s?

Sources also said that Bumrah personally prefers Test cricket, especially because World Test Championship (WTC) points are on the line. If he skips the Asia Cup, he could be given a month-long rest before returning for the crucial South Africa Test series.

As for T20s, he may feature in the New Zealand series in January 2026, which would serve as preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026.

Bumrah’s Impact in the England Series

Bumrah played three of the five Test matches against England and took 14 wickets at an impressive average of 26. It had already been decided that he would only play three matches in that series as part of workload management.

Final Decision Lies with Agarkar and Gambhir

Ultimately, the decision will be made by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and new Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. But Bumrah’s preference, team priorities, and the upcoming international calendar will all play a key role.

What It Means for Team India

If Bumrah misses the Asia Cup, India will need to rely on the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and possibly Arshdeep Singh or Prasidh Krishna to lead the pace attack in the continental tournament.