Following his fiery fifer on Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa, India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah swiftly dismissed questions regarding his workload management. Rather he insisted that he tries to take care of his body and pointedly stated that those questions were not my questions," effectively brushing aside the speculation.
I try to give my best in whichever format I play: Bumrah on workload management
Bumrah was the standout performer on a dry Eden Gardens pitch, one which prompted India to field four spinners for the first time since 2012. He utterly dominated the South African batting line-up, claiming an exceptional figure of 5/27. This achievement marked his third five-wicket haul on home soil and his 16th overall in Test cricket, playing a crucial role as South Africa crumbled to 159 runs in just 55 overs on day one.
Despite his consistent match-winning performances, Bumrah has faced criticism and questions regarding his commitment in the past. These critics often cite instances such as his missing the final day of the Sydney Test due to a back spasm and his subsequent resting for two Tests during the series in England.
"I try to give my best in whichever format I play. These questions are not my questions; I will not answer them. I try to play as much as I can. I try to take care of my body," Bumrah said at the press conference.
Since the series against England, Bumrah has been engaged in non-stop cricket across various formats. His demanding schedule has seen him transition directly from the Asia Cup T20Is into the Test series against the West Indies. Following that, he immediately participated in the T20Is in Australia, although he was strategically rested for the ODIs.
"I try to give my best in each and every format... Rest, question-answer sessions — whoever wants to play, they can play. I'm happy as far as I'm able to contribute and try to learn new things," he added.
'The job is still left in the Test match'
Bumrah also stated that whenever one plays in India, it is widely expected that the spinners will pick up a lot of wickets. Therefore, he finds great satisfaction in being able to make an impact with limited spells as a fast bowler. He concluded by expressing that he is very happy with the performance, but added a cautionary note that the job is still left in the Test match.
"Whenever you play in India, it is known that spinners will pick up a lot of wickets. So whenever you're able to make an impact with limited spells... It always feels good. I'm very happy with the performance. The job is still left in the Test match," Bumrah concluded.
India were placed at 37/1 by the close of Day 1's play and are trailing behind by 122 runs.