The workload management debate resurfaced again as Jasprit Bumrah got injured in the crucial Sydney Test and couldn't bowl in the second innings. Many felt that Bumrah was overbowled but India's 1983 ODI World Cup-winning pacer Balwinder Sandhu feels other. Sandhu says that "workload management is bull****", a term created by the Australians. Sandhu gave legendary Indian captain Kapil Dev's example who used to bowl long spells to elaborate his point.
"Workload? How many overs did he bowl? 150-something, right? But in how many matches or innings? Five matches or nine innings, correct? That comes down to 16 overs per innings or 30 overs per match. And he didn’t bowl those 15-plus overs in one go. He bowled in spells. So, is it a big deal? Workload management is bull****. These are Australian terms, created by Australians. Workload management is nothing. I don’t agree with this," Sandhu said in a conversation with Times of India.
"I come from an era when cricketers used to listen to their bodies and no one else. I don’t agree with this at all. We used to bowl 25–30 overs in a day. Kapil (Dev) has bowled long spells throughout his career. Your body and muscles get conditioned when you bowl, bowl, and bowl. So, I don’t agree with this workload management concept."
Forget Tests, become a T20 bowler
Bumrah bowled more than 150 overs in the series, the second most by an Indian in the series. However, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc bowled more than him. Despite Bumrah taking 32 wickets, the most by a pacer in a single India-Australia Test series, Sandhu feels that any bowler who can't bowl 20 overs in an innings should give up the dream to play Test cricket for India. Instead, he wants them to focus on T20 cricket where they bowl mini spells.
"Bowling 15 overs in a day, and that too in different spells, is not a big deal for a bowler. You’re not bowling on all five days of a Test match. He took three or four spells to bowl those overs. Today, you have the best physios, the best masseurs, and excellent doctors to take care of your body. If a bowler can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India," said Sandhu.
"If you want to represent India, you should have the strength to bowl at least 20 overs in an innings. If you can’t, then it’s better to go back and play T20s, where you only need to bowl four overs. Even those four overs are bowled in three spells," he further added.
Meanwhile, the extent of Bumrah's injury. He may miss the ODI series against England at home next month and is doubtful for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well.
