Following India's recent loss to England at Lord's, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has strongly criticized Jasprit Bumrah's workload management during the ongoing Test series. Vengsarkar questioned the decision to rest Bumrah for the second Test at Edgbaston, particularly with a week-long break after the first Test.

Bumrah is slated to play only three of the five Tests against England. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier indicated that Bumrah's availability would be limited due to injury concerns. Vengsarkar expressed his disapproval of bowlers choosing Test matches based on personal preference. He asserted that if a player is fit and available, they should participate in all matches for their country. "There's no question of selecting matches based on personal preference," he stated. He emphasized that fitness, not workload plans, should determine availability.

Irfan Pathan has also criticized Jasprit Bumrah's absence from the second Test against England, questioning the workload management approach when the team needs him most. Pathan urges selectors to prepare for a future without Bumrah and Shami in Test cricket, emphasizing the need for stability and continuity for younger bowlers.

Despite missing a Test, Bumrah has been a key performer, taking 12 wickets in two Tests at an average of 21.00, including two five-wicket hauls.

Concerns about Bumrah's fitness have been ongoing. He sustained a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in January 2025 and had to miss the final day of the Sydney Test. This injury also led to him missing the Champions Trophy. Mahela Jayawardene, the Mumbai Indians head coach, acknowledged the challenge of not having Bumrah available and indicated the team would experiment with different combinations in his absence.

Earlier in the year, there were concerns that Bumrah would miss the start of the IPL 2025 season due to a back injury. He has been undergoing recuperation at the National Cricket Academy's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Former India captain Anil Kumble has suggested that Bumrah should play the remaining two Tests against England and manage his workload by skipping the home series later in the year. Kumble emphasized the importance of Bumrah's presence, especially after the defeat at Lord's. Sunil Gavaskar has also cautioned against Bumrah missing the fourth Test.