Sanjay Manjrekar former Indian batter has expressed concerns regarding Jasprit Bumrah's availability for international cricket and conveyed his wish for the star fast bowler to play more regularly for India. Bumrah was recently selected for the Asian Games in Japan and Shreyas Iyer will be captaining the Indian team in the competition in September. However the pacer has been rested from the forthcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England even after playing in 13 games for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. Manjrekar acknowledged that managing workload is important for the fast bowlers but said that Bumrah's approach to his career is difficult for him to understand. He also revealed that he had considered Bumrah as the frontrunner to be India's next T20 captain. Speaking on Sony Sports Network Manjrekar said : "Asian Games, those performances and those results don't stay with you for too long. Cricket is still a sport of bilaterals and our own World Cups. The Olympics, when it comes as well, I don't think it will have the same sanctity that you have. It would be nice to win the Asia Games, but Bumrah is somebody; I'm just confused about how his career is going in terms of his availability. I did an Insta post yesterday. I thought Bumrah was the frontrunner to become India's T20 captain because I thought he could handle the T20 workload." Also Read | What is the Biggest Victory Margin for India in Test Cricket? Manjrekar wants Bumrah to play more often According to the former cricketer Bumrah appears to be picking and choosing assignments rather than being available for every series. He said that the pacer should have been able to handle a short T20I tour having played the entire IPL season. He Futher added : "But it seems like he's not very keen to play every game that India plays. So here is a guy who actually rests for India games and keeps himself fit for certain India games. So it's a very different approach, something that I don't understand. I just wish that he would commit himself more to India. I can understand the workload he feels for Test cricket; 50 overs of cricket is extremely demanding. But considering that he played the entire IPL, I thought he would be able to take the workload of a few T20 matches in Ireland and England." Manjrekar also said that the bowler's lack of availability has enabled other players to progress further in the race to become captain. Bumrah had declined India's Test captaincy in 2025 due to workload issues and subsequently Shubman Gill was handed the leadership role. He Concluded : "I wish he were available. And he was my go-to captain. He was certainly deserving of ability and leadership qualities as well. Bumrah has not been too keen to take captaincy. It's gone prematurely to other Indian players like Shubman Gill in England and now Shreyas Iyer as well." Bumrah's recent form has also been the center of discussion. He had managed only four wickets in IPL 2026 and lacked consistency. After being rested for the Ireland and England T20Is and not selected for the ODI series against Afghanistan all eyes will be on his return for the three match ODI series against England.