'People Saying India Lost 2 Games Bumrah Played': Nasser Hussain Flags Dilemma
Nasser Hussain thinks India has a dilemma with Jasprit Bumrah if they draw the fourth Test against England in the 2025-26 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes India will face a tricky dilemma viz Jasprit Bumrah if they manage to scrape out a draw against England in the fourth Test of the 2025-26 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He pointed out how it has already been declared that Bumrah will play three Tests in the series, and wondered whether India will be comfortable dropping their 'greatest match-winner' for a decider.
Bumrah, captain Shubman Gill, and head coach Gautam Gambhir have all said that Bumrah is supposed to play just three Tests — something that they have been criticised in India for, too. The Old Trafford game is his third, and he has already bowled 119.4, the second-highest. In Manchester, he was also spotted hobbling a couple of times with cramps and strains.
'India will have a tricky decision to make if they continue to dig in on the final day at Old Trafford and come away with a creditable draw," Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail. 'Because although they keep saying that Jasprit Bumrah will play only three Tests in this five-match series – and this, don't forget, is his third – the series could still be alive when the teams arrive at The Oval next week," he added.
Hussain also admitted to being aware of some people's thoughts on why India have lost the two games where Bumrah played so far.
'I know people are saying that India have lost the two games Bumrah has played in and won the one he missed, with Siraj and Akash Deep bowling India to victory in the second Test at Edgbaston. But there are a lot of things that go into losing a game of cricket, and I don't think you can honestly say Bumrah's bowling was one of the causes of the tourists' defeats at Headingley and Lord's," he said, rejecting the idea.
'Clearly, if India lose and go 3–1 down, they can give Bumrah and probably Mohammed Siraj, who has played all four games so far, a rest for the final game. But if they escape Manchester only 2–1 down, are they really going to leave out their greatest match-winner with the ball?" Hussain added.
India will start the fifth day trailing by 137 runs, with eight wickets in the bag. There's also chances of rain which can aid their push for a draw, though England still remain with their noses ahead.
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