Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil criticized the team management for making workload management very important within the team. This statement comes after the conclusion of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy where the team management rested Jasprit Bumrah for the second and fifth Test in order to manage the pacer's workload.
Notably, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had made it clear ahead of the England Tests that Bumrah will only be featuring in three out of five matches as the 31-year-old needs to take care of his body as well. Despite concerns with his fitness, Bumrah performed well in the five-match assignment, finishing with 14 scalps under his belt from 5 innings.
Patil isn't a fan of workload management
Patil, who served as a selector for the Indian team from 2012 to 2016, has now questioned why the team management is trying so hard to properly manage players' workloads. He also went on to make a massive statement and described workload management as 'nonsense'.
“I wonder how the BCCI is agreeing to all this. Is the physio more important than the captain, than the head coach? What about selectors? Are we to expect that the physio will be sitting in selection committee meetings now?" Patil said while speaking to Mid-Day.
“Workload management is nonsense. You are either fit or unfit and that’s how we [his selection committee] picked teams. We did not entertain this workload business," Patil added.
Patil further remarked that batters these days are known to play fancy shots even during Test matches, but things weren't the same during his playing days.
“I marvel at the strokes batters play now. In our time, we used to be scolded by Sunil Gavaskar if we tried any fancy strokes, but times have changed and we accept that. What I cannot digest is how players are missing games," Patil stated.
Meanwhile, India's next Test assignment will be two-match series against West Indies at home. This series will commence from October 2 after the conclusion of Asia Cup 2025. It will be interesting to see if Bumrah will get picked for the upcoming home assignment or will be rested once again.