The debate around India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah does not seem to be dying down any soon. His absence from two out of three Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has been criticised. While many have backed Bumrah for listening to his body, some have criticised him for not going the extra mile. Team India’s former physio, John Gloster, feels Bumrah knows what he is doing like any other mature and smart athlete.
“Look, I know that's a very controversial topic at the moment, and I'll happily tackle most controversial topics. I think that the athlete at the end of the day knows themselves better than anybody,” Gloster was quoted as saying by TOI at a book launch at Cricket Club of India.
“Most athletes these days who have good sports teams around them are taking advice from those people. But intuitively, most athletes know what's right and what's wrong. And he is a mature athlete. He’s a smart individual who knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Will Bumrah play T20 Asia Cup 2025?
In the Test series against England, Bumrah claimed 14 wickets at an average of 14. The wave of criticism came when he did not play the fifth and final Test of the series. There is a question mark over whether he will play the T20 Asia Cup 2025 but Gloster does not see it as an issue.
“[It] should not be a problem, since the tournament will be played in a T20 format and Bumrah has to bowl only four overs in a match,” Gloster said.
Gloster on need to think about Bumrah for next 2-3 years
Gloster does not want Bumrah to play every series. He thinks that the 31-year-old made significant comeback after suffering a back injury on Australia tour earlier this year.
“And I think nine times out of ten, mature athletes who have good support are going to make the right decisions. And what we need to think about is not Bumrah for the next series or the series after that. We've got to think about Bumrah for the next two to three years,” Gloster said.
“In Jasprit's case, he had significant success when he came back. With the type of injury that he had, or has, he always knew that there were going to be times when it would need to be managed differently in order for him to continue to have success and stay playing at the highest level. And it is through good counsel that he comes to terms with that.”
In addition, Gloster believes that at times, others will make decisions for Bumrah keeping in mind his career longevity.
“He knows that his career and the length of his career, his sporting longevity, is going to be through sound counsel and sound advice. This is what it's going to be like. And he knows that there are going to be situations where others are going to have to make decisions for him in order for him to have the best and longest career that he's going to have,” Gloster said.
India’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 squad will be announced on August 19. It will be interesting to see if the selectors keep Bumrah in the squad or rest him.