The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar series proved challenging for India, marked by a series defeat and some apparent cracks in the team. Despite these struggles, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as a standout performer and a beacon of hope for the Indian side. Bumrah’s exceptional bowling performance included 32 wickets in five matches, featuring three five-wicket hauls, earning him the Player of the Series award. His haul was the highest by an Indian bowler in a Test series in Australia and the best by an Indian pacer in any Test series.
Bumrah’s efforts, however, came at a cost. He missed the final innings of the Sydney Test due to a back injury. This absence raised concerns about his workload, as he bowled 151.2 overs in the series, including a career-high 53.2 overs in a single match at the MCG. Discussions around workload management surfaced, questioning whether India could have better handled Bumrah’s workload across the series. The BCCI has yet to make an official statement on the matter.
Sandhu’s Take on Workload Management:
Former India pacer Balwinder Sandhu, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, dismissed the idea of workload management as unnecessary and overhyped. He argued that:
- Bumrah’s average workload of 16 overs per innings or 30 overs per match was manageable and not excessive.
- Modern-day cricketers benefit from the best physios, masseurs, and doctors, making such concerns unwarranted.
Sandhu expressed frustration over Bumrah’s injury concerns, suggesting that if a bowler’s body cannot sustain 20 overs per innings, they should reconsider playing Test cricket and focus on T20s instead. He emphasized that bowling 15–20 overs in a day, distributed across spells, is not a significant challenge.
Comparison to Past Eras:
Sandhu highlighted the stark contrast between modern cricket and his playing days, where bowlers regularly delivered 25–30 overs a day. He pointed to Kapil Dev as an example of a bowler who frequently bowled long spells without complaint. Sandhu underscored that repeated bowling conditions the body and muscles, a practice he believes is undermined by the modern concept of workload management.
Sandhu’s remarks challenge the prevailing narrative around workload management, emphasizing resilience and physical conditioning over modern-day strategies. His comments add a layer of debate about how India’s premier fast bowlers, like Bumrah, are handled in the demanding Test arena.
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