"It became a mockery when Bumrah wasn't there" - Former batter expresses concern over India's pace resources after BGT 2024-25 debacle

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar raised concerns over India's fast bowling resources after the visitors' 3-1 loss in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Questioning India's team selection for the fifth Test in Sydney and the series overall, Manjrekar commented that in Jasprit Bumrah's absence on Day 3 of the SCG Test, India's bowling became a mockery.

Australia beat India by six wickets in Sydney on Sunday, January 5 to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years and also seal their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Chasing a target of 162 in the fifth Test, the Aussies cruised home in just 27 overs as Bumrah couldn't bowl due to back spasms.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar slammed India's decision to go in with two spinners on a grassy surface. He opined that once Bumrah got injured, India's bowling got completely exposed. The former batter opined:

"Going in with two (three) seam bowlers and one Nitish Kumar Reddy on a pitch like that was just crazy. You saw it became just a mockery when Bumrah wasn't there. They had to just bowl Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna before Siraj had to eventually leave the field. That is what you have to be really disappointed about."

The 59-year-old further opined that India struggled to make an impact with the ball in BGT 2024-25 because of the lack of experience in the pace bowling department. He urged India to take a serious look at their resources and suggested that they could try blooding a speedster into the Test arena. Manjrekar elaborated:

"India were carrying two-three inexperienced seamers. Harshit Rana impressed in one game. Second game lackluster, dropped for the third Test. Akash Deep played a couple of matches, Prasidh Krishna comes in (after Akash Deep got injured).

"So they didn't stick to one bowler. India need to look at their bowling. I wonder whether India can also think of having a speedster. There are couple who are out there. That's a focus area for India," he added.

Both Harshit and Reddy were handed their Test debut in the first match of the series in Perth. While the former was dropped after the second Test, the latter played all five matches.

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How India's pace bowlers fared in BGT 2024-25

Bumrah had a terrific series and claimed 32 wickets at an average of 13.06, with three five-fers and two four-fers. Siraj was India's second-leading wicket-taker in BGT 2024-25. The right-arm pacer claimed 20 wickets in five Tests at an average of 31.15, with a best of 4-98.

Prasidh played one Test and impressed with six scalps at an average of 17.83. Reddy managed only five wickets in five Tests, Akash Deep five in two and Harshit four in two.