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Ex-Indian Cricketer Slams Gautam Gambhir for Playing Jasprit Bumrah Against UAE in Asia Cup

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Manan Mehta | Last updated Sep 11, 2025 4:04 PM ET

The Asia Cup is in progress and India emerged as winners in their first match of the tournament. The team was up against the United Arab Emirates. Experts and analysts had predicted this to be a one-sided affair, although they wanted the host nation to give a tough fight.

As it turned out, it was an overwhelmingly one-sided affair in the end. India bowled the UAE out for just 57 runs. Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube were the pick of the bowlers. Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma tore into the UAE attack and chased the score down in just 4.3 overs.

However, former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja was displeased about a certain team selection despite India’s massive win. Jadeja in his match analysis for the Sony Sports Network questioned coach Gautam Gambhir for playing Jasprit Bumrah in the team against UAE.

What is the need to play Bumrah? Usually, you keep him wrapped in cotton wool. Ab UAE ke against bhi tumhe Bumrah chahiye? (Now you need Bumrah even against the UAE?) Either don’t protect him at all, or if you need to preserve him, then do it in this type of match. Logic dictates that, but we never do things with logic.
Ajay Jadeja via Sony Sports Network

If Bumrah Plays Against UAE, I'm Going On Strike : Ajay Jadeja

“What is the need to play Bumrah tomorrow, man? Usually, you keep him wrapped in cotton wool. Ab UAE ke against bhi tumhe Bumrah chahiye? (Now you need Bumrah even against the UAE?) Either don’t protect him at all,… pic.twitter.com/mtuekyVJpE
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) September 10, 2025

Jadeja brought up the topic of preserving Bumrah, something that has been ringing in Indian cricket for the last 6 months. UAE is not the strongest opponent India would face in this tournament and the team would have been very capable of defeating their opposition without the services of Bumrah.

Interestingly India did not play Arshdeep Singh, who in his short career has emerged as India’s leading wicket taker in the format. If one agrees to the statement made by Jadeja, playing Singh instead of Bumrah would not have been a bad idea.

Bumrah’s outing was ordinary by his standards. He did get a wicket in his spell of 1-19(3). However, the number of loose balls bowled is something the pacer would look to control as archrivals Pakistan won’t be very considerate.

Jasprit Bumrah aside, records tumble in India’s massive win over UAE

It was more than a statement win from the T20I world champions. They completely annihilated their opponents and with that many records tumbled. With 93 balls to spare, this was India’s biggest win in a chase.

Their previous best was 81 against Scotland in the 2021 T20 World Cup at the same ground. This match became the fourth-ever smallest T20I match in history as it took a total of only 106 balls to get over. The record holders here are Sri Lanka who finished their match against Netherlands just in 93 balls back in 2014.

Abhishek Sharma also became the fourth Indian to hit a six of the first ball of the innings. The previous three players to do it were Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. This interestingly was also the first time since 2016 that Jasprit Bumrah bowled three overs in the powerplay.

The last time he did it was coincidentally against the UAE in the 2016 Asia Cup at Mirpur. The focus will now shifts towards the massive India vs. Pakistan match on the 14th of September. Pakistan would pose a stiffer challenge, and India will have to bring their A game out if they are to prevail in the big showdown.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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