NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has called on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to step up and give his absolute best, if the team needs it, in the crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar series, Bumrah is set to feature in his final Test of the series, beginning Wednesday — a must-win clash for the visitors.India will bank heavily on their premier fast bowler to deliver a match-defining spell and help level the series before heading back to London for the decider.
Pathan, while expressing his admiration for Bumrah’s skills, stressed the importance of pushing beyond limits when the team demands it. He also underlined the value of total commitment at the international level, saying players should either give everything or sit out.“I adore Bumrah; his skill is outstanding. However, I believe that when you play for India, you have to give it your all. When you talk about a five-over spell, when Root comes, you are not bowling the sixth over. You have to give it all. Either you give everything or you rest properly. When it comes to a nation or a team, when you are playing for a team, you play for them. Team always comes first,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.Pathan’s remarks come in the wake of Ben Stokes’ heroic performance at Lord’s. The England captain, named Player of the Match, bowled 44 overs — his third-highest workload in a Test — and made vital contributions with the bat, scoring 44 and 33 in the two innings. He also effected a game-changing run out of Rishabh Pant.Despite managing a heavy workload and his own fitness concerns, Stokes dug deep to bowl a spirited 9.2-over spell on the final morning, helping his side defend 192. He followed that up with a ten-over burst after lunch, during which he dismissed Bumrah to seal England’s dramatic 22-run win and take a 2-1 series lead.Bumrah, who returned for the third Test after being rested in Edgbaston, bowled 43 overs across both innings. But Pathan suggested India needed more, especially in high-stakes moments.Jofra Archer’s return to Test cricket after a four-year hiatus due to injuries was another example Pathan pointed to. Archer, despite limited match practice, hit speeds of 150kph, troubled the Indian batters, and ended with match figures of 5/105 — bowling in partnership with Stokes during critical phases.Pathan clarified that he isn’t questioning Bumrah’s commitment but urged him to consistently go the extra mile — much like Stokes and Archer — to help India win.“Not questioning that he hasn’t put in efforts. He has bowled overs. There is no doubt about it. However, when it comes to going the extra mile for the team, you have to do that. Bumrah will remain at the top for a long time if he continues to win games regularly for India. You have to put in that extra effort when the team needs you. Ben Stokes did that, and Jofra did it after four years,” he added.India’s squad for the 4th Test:Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.
