Sandip Patil's 'You Die For Country' Remark For Jasprit Bumrah Causes Outrage, Here's Why

Sandip Patil's 'You Die For Country' Remark For Jasprit Bumrah Causes Outrage, Here's Why

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 16:37 IST

Sandip Patil said when a cricketer was picked for their country they died for their country suggesting that Jasprit Bumrah's absence from Tests was 'nonsense'.

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Jasprit Bumrah played just three of five Tests against England. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Former Indian batter Sandeep Patil addressed the topic of player fitness and asserted that a physio shouldn’t be given more importance than the captain. A player needs to be available when needed, he said. Calling workload management “nonsense", Patil voiced that cricketers who played for the country, died for the country, and he had seen the Kapil Devs and Sunil Gavaskars of the world toil hard on the ground without much access to modern facilities and rehab programmes like the current generation of cricketers have. The veteran cricketers carried on despite the injuries, he added.

Patil’s remarks follow Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in three of the five Test matches during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy that India heroically levelled 2-2 against England.

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Jasprit Bumrah Backlash

Despite missing two Test matches, Bumrah scalped 14 English wickets, the fourth-highest in the bowling chart. India’s Mohammed Siraj topped the list with 23 wickets. The pacer, who became the primary bowler in India’s bowling attack in Bumrah’s absence, had an impressive attendance of 100%. Siraj was further awarded the Player of the Match award for picking an impressive nine wickets at The Oval that helped India edge past England by 6 runs and eventually square the nail-biting conclusion.

However, Bumrah’s absence from the two Tests generated more attention than his participation in the ones he played.

The premier pacer sat out to avoid long-term back injuries. It was also reported that he missed out on the fifth encounter at The Oval owing to a minor knee injury he had picked up.

Sandip Patil Minces No Words

“I wonder how the BCCI is agreeing to all this. Is the physio more important than the captain, than the head coach? What about selectors? Are we to expect that the physio will be sitting in selection committee meetings now?" Patil said while speaking to Mid-Day.

“Workload management is nonsense. You are either fit or unfit and that’s how we [his selection committee] picked teams. We did not entertain this workload business," Patil added.

The former batter cited his example when he braved a Test match in Australia in 1981 despite suffering from a head injury.

“When you are picked for your country, you die for your country. You are a warrior. I have seen Sunil Gavaskar bat on all five days of a match, I’ve seen Kapil Dev bowl on most days of a Test match and even bowl to us in the nets. They never asked for breaks, never complained, and their careers extended to 16-plus years. I didn’t miss the next Test after my head injury in Australia in 1981," said Patil.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah’s Instagram Post After India-England Series Draws Ire, Here’s Why

Fans Slam Patil

Patil was being overdramatic, fans concluded. They wondered if Bumrah had pushed himself to play all the Tests despite not feeling 100% fit, who were to take the blame if he had incurred a major, career-threatening injury? Bumrah has featured in 91 innings and picked up 219 Test wickets at an average of 19.82. He also currently sits in the No. 1 position in ICC’s Men’s Test Bowling Rankings.

“Who would take blame if we decide to play Bumrah in every game and in one of them he suddenly breaks down and that is an end to his career? Are these ex cricketers ready to take the pi** if this thing happens? (sic)" wrote one user on X while responding to Patil’s piercing words.

“"d*e for your country"… You are just playing a sport, stop acting like you’re in a bloody war (sic)," remarked another.

Also Read: ‘Workload Management Is Nonsense…’: Former India Cricketer Slams Indian Team

“Can’t thank Kohli enough for breaking this toxic boomer culture by skipping three Tests to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. It’s literally just a game."

Adding to the online discourse, a fourth added that Bumrah’s three-match commitment was decided even before the series by the head coach, captain, and the selectors.

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“Very very unfortunate the way, Bumrah’s case has been presented. It was decided pre series, that he will be playing only 3 tests, then what’s the fuss about. And if there’s that big an issue with him picking and choosing, don’t select him. Have never seen such arguments from English cricketers about Wood, Archer (sic)."

Bumrah’s “selective appearance" was recently panned by former allrounder Irfan Pathan.

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 16:37 IST

News explainers Sandip Patil's 'You Die For Country' Remark For Jasprit Bumrah Causes Outrage, Here's Why

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