‘You Are Selected for the Country...’ Veteran Cricketer Criticizes Bumrah and BCCI

Mumbai, Aug 11, 2025: Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah played only three Test matches on the recent England tour. He appeared in the Tests at Leeds, Lord's, and Manchester. The team management rested him for the Edgbaston and Oval Tests to manage his workload.

Former Team India cricketer and chairman of the selection committee, Sandeep Patil, has strongly criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for this workload policy.

Sandeep Patil, who was also a part of the Indian 1983 World Cup team, said players never faced such rules during his playing days or when he worked as a BCCI selector. He also expressed his concerns on Bumrah.

Workload Debate

Jasprit Bumrah played all 5 Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 during the Australia tour. However, he got injured in the last Test match at Sydney. Many people believe this injury happened because of too much workload. But former cricketer Sandeep Patil thinks resting main players in big series is not the right way.

Patil Questions BCCI’s Policy

Sandeep Patil told Mid-Day, “I am surprised how the BCCI agrees to all these things. Is a physio more important than the captain or the head coach? What about the selectors? Now we expect the physio to join selection committee meetings. Will he decide everything?”

Patil added, “When you are selected for your country, you fight for your country. You are a warrior. I saw Sunil Gavaskar bat for all five days of a match. I saw Kapil Dev bowl on most days of a Test match. Kapil Dev used to bowl a lot in the nets, never asked for a break, and never complained. His career lasted more than 16 years. In 1981, I played a Test match in Australia right after getting a head injury.”

He admitted that today’s players have better facilities and medical help. But in the old days, players had the passion to play even when they were hurt. Patil said, “There was no rehab program in our time, yet we played despite injury. We were happy playing for the country. There was no drama.”

According to Patil, batting styles have changed in modern cricket. He is surprised to see new shots, but he does not like players leaving matches early. He said, “In our time, if someone played a fancy shot, Sunil Gavaskar would scold him. Now, times have changed, and we accept it. But it is not right for players to leave the match.”