Manoj Tiwary questions Bumrah’s absence: “No player is bigger than the game”

Jasprit Bumrah may have finished the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as one of India’s standout bowlers, but his absence from two Tests has sparked debate. Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has openly questioned why the pace spearhead was picked if he was not fit to play the entire series.

Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, played three matches in England, taking 17 wickets including two five-wicket hauls. Yet he was rested for two games, including being released from the squad during the Oval Test. That decision did not sit well with Tiwary, who believes selectors must back players available for the full stretch.

“If a player is not fit for all five Tests, then you should not pick him,” Tiwary told CrickTracker. “No player is bigger than the game.”

The comments came in sharp contrast to Mohammed Siraj’s workload. Siraj delivered more than 185 overs throughout the series and became the top wicket-taker with 23 dismissals. His effort has merely amplified the discussion surrounding India’s rotation policy and Bumrah’s limited availability

With India losing the series 3-2, the conversation around selection choices and workload management is far from over.