Not Another Retirement, Please — Bumrah Hints at the Inevitable

No… not another retirement, please. Indian cricket is still reeling from the shock of hearing the 'R' word thrice in quick succession — with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin all announcing their exits. Surely, we’re not bracing for another one? Not yet. But Jasprit Bumrah just gave a glimpse into the future — and it's one fans are dreading.

India’s pace ace, the man who changed the very face of fast bowling in India, is 31 now. He’s already lost over a year to back injuries and knows exactly where his body and career are heading.

It’s been nine years since Bumrah made his debut, and what a ride it’s been. In just 45 Tests, he’s accomplished enough to be mentioned alongside legends like Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, and Zaheer Khan. Some even believe he’s already gone past them — the finest fast bowler India has ever produced. But Bumrah knows this chapter won’t go on forever.

"This is a sport I fell in love with," he shared in a heartfelt conversation with Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. "On my recent trip to Australia, a bunch of youngsters came up to me and said they try to copy my action — which is surreal, because I used to do that too. So yes, the journey won’t last forever. But when it does end, I want to give back to the sport. Everything I have, everything I’ve learned in life, it’s because of cricket. I’m grateful for the path I’ve had."

Even though he’s already achieved a lot — including a T20 World Cup win, his only ICC title so far — Bumrah is well aware of the toll international cricket takes. He’s still playing across formats, including the IPL, but the day isn’t far when he’ll have to pick and choose more carefully than ever.

His last tour of Australia was bittersweet. He took 32 wickets, but it came in a series India lost 1-3. And worse, his recurring back injury flared up again, sidelining him for months. But instead of frustration, Bumrah feels nothing but gratitude.

"It’s not easy to keep playing everything, year after year. I’ve been doing it for a while now, but there comes a time when you need to listen to your body and be smart about your choices. As a cricketer, you never want to step back — you always want to keep going — but you have to be realistic," he said.

And then came the most telling part of the interview — a rare moment of reflection, and perhaps, a quiet hint of what lies ahead.

"Right now, I’m okay," Bumrah said. "I don’t really set goals like ‘I want to play this many matches’ or ‘reach this milestone.’ I take it one day at a time. So far, the journey’s been good. But the moment I feel the fire is gone, or my effort isn’t at 100%, or my body isn’t holding up — that’s when I’ll know it’s time to go."

So no, this isn’t a retirement announcement. Not yet. But it’s a gentle reminder that even the fiercest warriors have their limits. And when the day comes, Jasprit Bumrah will walk away with grace — only after giving it everything he has.