Follow UsThe workload management of Jasprit Bumrah is an issue that has had lengthy debates between former and current cricketers. Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain turned commentator, has now come up with a unique idea that will make Bumrah negate all such controversies, but he is afraid that Indian cricket’s logic might not let that succeed.
Saying that Bumrah should only play in matches of importance, be it red or white ball, Gavaskar, in his column for Mid-Day questioned, “What is more important? Qualifying for the World Test Championship or playing some bilateral white ball games which have no bearing at all?”
He further said that in the upcoming four home Tests, Bumrah should not miss any at all. “If India have to qualify for the WTC, then Jasprit Bumrah, being the premier fast bowler in the game, has to play in the four Tests that India have lined up between early October and late November.”
Suggesting that there is a reasonable gap between the two series, it shouldn’t be a problem, therefore, for Bumrah to remain fit.
"There’s a gap of a month between these Tests against West Indies and South Africa, which means that he should be rested for the white ball series. That should be the logic, but then Indian cricket have got its own logic, as was seen in the recently concluded series.”
Gavaskar also weighed in on whether Bumrah and the team management were right in not forcing him to play the last Test at The Oval, which was a must-win for India to save the series. Given the fact that it was the ‘grassiest’ Oval pitch in the recent past, the decision not to play Bumrah came under the scanner.
“The debate that has generated some heat is whether he should have played the last must-win Test match, especially since it was the grassiest pitch at the Oval in a long, long time. The next Test was in early October and so there were two clear months for him to rest and recover in time for that,” wrote the 76-year-old.
“The Indian team management stated that he wasn’t picked considering his future. This is where the lines between what is good for the individual and what is good for Indian cricket got a little blurred,” added the man who commented during the exciting five-match series that finished 2-2.
As of now, Bumrah has indicated that he will be available for the Asia Cup, as per reports. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has held a meeting of the Senior Selection Committee to announce the squad on August 19 (Tuesday) for the Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).