Cricket has always been a game of passion, grit, and, let’s be honest, some drama on and off the field. Just when we thought player workload management and rotation policies were becoming the norm, former KKR batter Manoj Tiwary stirred the pot with a fiery statement about Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup. According to Tiwary, no player—no matter how legendary—should ever be bigger than the game itself.
Star Bowler or Team Player? The Fine Line Between Fame and Function
Bumrah is India’s pace spearhead and has had a tough year of injury, with the last being a back issue that kept him out for three months. To manage his fitness, the team wisely had Bumrah feature in just three of the five Tests during the England tour. Bumrah lit up the pitch with 14 wickets and a pair of five-fors, yet some eyebrows still raised.
Tiwary’s argument is simple: if a player is not fit to endure a full series, why risk picking him at all? According to him, it sends the wrong message to the team and fans alike. Cricket, after all, thrives on consistency, not exceptions. Players like Mohammed Siraj, who topped the wicket charts, showed that rotating stars doesn’t weaken the team.
Bench Strength Matters: The Case of Siraj
One of the most important points made in Tiwary’s criticism is the quality of India’s bowling lineup. The in-form Mohammed Siraj played all five Tests in England and took 23 wickets overall; it showed why a cricket team should never put too much faith in one individual, no matter how world-class. Siraj’s success in England is a new era in cricket: a time when India’s fast-bowling cupboard is full, and ‘playing’ coach selectivity should never be used as an excuse to upset the balance of the cricket team.
Bumrah’s limited contribution also produced inconclusive results for India. Curiously, India stumbled in two of the three games with Bumrah, yet came out on top in both matches he sat out. This serves to remind us that cricket, unlike other sports, has a way of seeming dependent on the “team first, star second” mentality of the game.
Beyond the Stats: Cricket Ethics and Accountability
Tiwary’s comments are rooted in a larger ethical argument: accountability in cricket. Star players are honored or elevated in the sport, but if those players serve the game from a position of fitness or selective participation, it can often lead to conflict and set a bad example. Tiwary stated, “No one is bigger than the game of cricket,” – and that punchline is not just a quip, but rather an ethos every player, selector, and supporter of the game should heed.
Fast forward to the Asia Cup 2025, and Bumrah is part of India’s 15-member squad. All eyes will be on the dynamic playing of cricket with fans and analysts, excited to watch a world-class pace bowler take the field while being caught in the larger question of team principle and the fair treatment of selective playing to different players.
FAQs
1: Why did Manoj Tiwary criticize Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup?
Tiwary criticized Bumrah for being selectively available in the recent England series, arguing no player should be bigger than the game.
2: How did Bumrah perform in the matches he played?
Bumrah took 14 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.
3: What was India’s result in the games Bumrah played versus missed?
India lost two of the three matches it played, but won both of the games it missed.
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