Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh has called out Team India management’s double standards over selecting players, who are returning after recovering from respective injuries. It has been reported that India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was currently ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury, will need to play for India A before the Test series against New Zealand.
Bumrah last played a Test match in November 2025 against South Africa and thus the selectors want him to play for India A to prove his match fitness.
On the other hand, Harshit Rana, who missed the T20 World Cup 2026 and the subsequent IPL season due to a knee injury, was added to the India squad for the white-ball series against Ireland and England without playing any professional cricket.
Sadagopan Ramesh said on his YouTube Channel, “It’s being reported that because Bumrah hadn’t played a red-ball game since November last year, he must play the India A games against New Zealand for selection. It’s a fair rationale and the right decision. With him, it is a knee injury. Yet, you selected Harshit Rana straight from knee surgery into the squad. It’s so clear that some rules are excused for some at different times.”
The former flamboyant batter wants the BCCI to keep the same parameters for everyone.
“Keep the parameters the same for everyone is what I am saying. In fact, the more established and proven cricketers are clearly the ones under the most pressure. Like Bumrah, even Shami was asked to prove his fitness. Yet, how Harshit Rana was picked straightaway from injury has been given no explanation, and the BCCI has never spoken about it.”
The former left-hander highlighted that the team can not afford to let go of a bowler like Bumrah as there is no substitute for him.
“If this is the case, why not let Bumrah go in Tests? You anyway keep saying that in transition, we don’t want superstar players and bravely decide to go without them. Like that, say we don’t want Bumrah either. Obviously you can’t because there is no other Bumrah,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).
India will play a two-match Test series against New Zealand in November.
