Gavaskar Reminds Selectors: “No Player is Bigger Than the Team”

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has delivered a pointed reminder to chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his panel: Jasprit Bumrah may be world-class, but Indian cricket should never revolve around one man.

The discussion began after Bumrah told the selectors he could only feature in three of the five Tests against England. That decision meant he missed the Oval Test, which had conditions tailor-made for him. Gavaskar questioned the call, saying that with a long break before India’s next Test in October, Bumrah had enough time to recover. In his view, if the fast bowler was fit, the team needed him in that decisive game.

Gavaskar’s larger point was about balance—protecting Bumrah’s workload is important, but not at the expense of the team’s chances in crucial matches. “Nobody is indispensable,” he argued, stressing that selectors should always think of the bigger picture.

Looking ahead, he advised that Bumrah be used smartly: prioritize him for Test cricket, especially with the World Test Championship in mind, and give him a breather during less important white-ball tours such as the upcoming trip to Australia. By doing so, Gavaskar believes India can keep their strike bowler fresh for the home Test season later this year.

His blunt message was clear: Indian cricket has to come first. If a player is fit, he should play. If not, the team must move on with whoever is ready.