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Amid recent criticism, World No. 1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah has found an ally in fellow pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bumrah's decision to participate in only three of the five Test matches during the recently concluded series in England had drawn disapproval from several cricketing figures, including former great Sandeep Patil.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar stands up for Jasprit Bumrah amid Workload debate
However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar defended his teammate's choice to manage his workload. Drawing on his own experience, which includes a memorable five-wicket haul in a Test match at Lord's, Bhuvneshwar stated that he sees no issue with Bumrah's limited participation. He emphasized that observers often do not fully appreciate the immense physical and mental strain that comes with consistently playing across all three formats of modern cricket.
“With the kind of bowling action Bumrah has, injuries can happen to him or to anyone. Considering how many years Bumrah has been playing & competing in all formats, it is tough for anyone to sustain that. I had no problem with him playing 3 out of 5 matches. If the selectors know what he can offer & are okay with it, it’s because they know he can still make a big impact in those 3 games. If a player might not play all five matches but will contribute significantly in three, that should be okay. People don’t always understand how tough it is to keep playing for so many years across formats," Bumrah said in a recent podcast on YouTube.
In the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah played a crucial role for India, featuring in the first, third, and fourth Tests. Across five innings, the fast bowler delivered a total of 119.4 overs, securing 14 wickets, including two impressive five-wicket hauls. Despite his strong individual performance, with two five-wicket hauls, India unfortunately went on to lose both of those matches. With a career record of 219 wickets from 48 Test matches, Bumrah is now shifting his focus to the T20I format. He is anticipated to be named in India's squad for the 2025 Men's Asia Cup, which will take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28. India's tournament schedule includes an opener against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai, followed by a high-stakes match against rivals Pakistan on September 14 at the same venue. India will then conclude their group stage matches against Oman in Abu Dhabi.
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