Post Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Jasprit Bumrah has become the most talked-about Indian cricketer in Test cricket. However, the narrative hasn’t been positive. The decision to rest for two Test matches has irked many. Former cricketers and even selectors have spoken against it. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan is critical of the approach as well.
Bumrah: India’s greatest fast bowler
He acknowledges that Bumrah is perhaps the greatest fast bowler India has ever produced. In terms of skills, he’d got it all. Across formats, there’s no one better. One can even say he’s the best in each format as well. The 40-year-old didn’t shy away from praising the all-time great.
“One thing is that a guy like Bumrah is very unique. They are like treasure with the kind of skill they have. I was the first one to say that the kind of skill he has is the best skill we have ever had. If you talk about the history of Indian cricket, he is the guy who can bowl inswing, outswing, bouncers, dipping slow ones, yorkers with a new ball, et cetera. He started with inswing. He is now doing outswing with a beautiful wrist position, and the kind of record he has is outstanding,” Irfan told RevSportz.
How BCCI manages Bumrah
He praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for handling Bumrah and the pacer for having clarity. Irfan saw how a plan was made for the ace pacer. His workload was gradually increased. Had he been overloaded, it would have worsened his back injury. But the medical team and Bumrah knew exactly what to do.
“Now, coming to the question, how difficult it is for a guy like Jasprit Bumrah to handle things when injured? I would say it is very difficult, and that is why the support system is there. I was at the NCA and was doing a coaching course for two weeks, and that time, he was coming back from the back injury and I could see that his progression was very clear.
He was bowling five overs one day, he would take a break the next day, and then he would come again and bowl for six overs. He’s very clear. The team is very clear in terms of recovery and the plan. So, proper process is in place before the game time starts,” he added.
Workload management not applicable during match
However, Irfan remains critical when it comes to workload management and usage. He doesn’t fault Bumrah for it, but the management. He thinks that at various times, the pacer should have been brought to have a crack at a new batter. But, since he’d delivered his spell, he was rested. It seemed like a plan was already set by Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir, which wasn’t going to be changed.
“What I’m saying is that process is not for during the games. When Joe Root came, he bowled the five-over spell, which he generally does, and he has gotten Root out 11 times. I’m talking about the Lord’s Test match; Root and Ben Duckett had a partnership. It was very important for captain Shubman Gill that his No. 1 bowler bowls 1-2 overs, because if he does that, there’s a high chance for him (Root) to get out to Bumrah, because he had done it before and could have done it again. It could also have been possible that he did not get the wicket even after bowling those two overs, but you must take the chances,” Irfan said.
He cited how England captain Ben Stokes bowled 9-over spells a few times in the series. This was despite Stokes having fitness issues as well. Irfan’s point is that workload management is fine, but that should be done in between series or matches, not in the game itself.
“My thing was that, why not take chances and get restricted to those five overs? In the same game, Ben Stokes bowled a spell of nine overs on the fourth day, being an all-rounder. Bumrah goes to fine leg, so there is recovery in different areas. He gets proper space, and I’m not raising a question on Bumrah’s attitude. No, I will not be a fool to do that, because he is someone who gives Test cricket priority, especially after the back injury, which a lot of other guys have not given,” the all-rounder added.
India won’t get desired results with this approach
Irfan even goes as far as saying that Team India won’t find success in Test cricket if this continues. You can’t keep resting Bumrah during a match and forcing others to take his load. According to Irfan, it’s a recipe for disaster. Whether the BCCI or Gambhir-Gill continue with it is another thing. But he doesn’t think India will do well with the approach.
“What I’m trying to say is once you are there on the field, it is like a war, and you go all out. Now, if Indian cricket decides that’s how they will manage him, then they can, but I don’t think desired results will be received until and unless we push things at the time of importance, like the Lord’s Test. If we keep managing the workload during the game and keep following the recovery structure, then how will we get the result?
By all means, give every bit of importance to Bumrah because there is not a second one like him, but workload management and recovery should be something to do between the Test matches when there was almost nine days of gap. When someone is playing three out of five Test matches, then restricting yourself within the spells as well will make things difficult for the team. I can guarantee that this won’t fetch desired result for the team,” Irfan added.
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