NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah has often faced criticism over workload management, and the Indian pace spearhead came under massive backlash for missing the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval in August this year, with the visitors trailing 1-2 and on the brink of losing the series.

In Bumrah's absence, Mohammed Siraj stepped up and produced one of the finest spells of his career to lead India to a famous six-run victory, helping the Shubman Gill-led side level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Siraj opened up on Bumrah's absence from the fifth Test, highlighting that the aggravation of his injury was such that he might not have been able to bowl again had he played that match.

"Bumrah bhai doesn't worry about outside opinion. He had a serious back injury and a big surgery. Had he bowled in that match, one can't say whether he would have bowled again or not, if he had broken down. It's that serious. That injury is very sensitive. His bowling action is very difficult. He is such a important bowler for India and his availability is so important - from Asia Cup to next year's World Cup and so on," Siraj said.

"Indian fans should understand that he is the backbone of the team and be rest assured that whenever possible, he will definitely play. Jassi bhai took the perfect decision," he added.

Siraj finished the five-match series against England as the leading wicket-taker with 23 scalps, nine of which came in the final Test. He also revealed that he was given the option to skip the Oval Test due to concerns over the physical toll of his workload.

"Shubman Gill asked me, 'Kaisi hai teri body?' (How is your body?). I said, 'Ekdum first-class'. He asked me if I would play. I said yes. He said, you are the main bowler for us, like Jasprit Bumrah, you decide. I said I'm available and am 100 per cent fit. I will give it everything. As for my body being tired, to be honest, I would have played one more Test if it was there. I didn’t feel tired. But I was in a zone. When you enter that zone, you don't know what you are doing, but just have that feeling that I have to do something here," Siraj said.