Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah defended Indian veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar against accusations of him being overworked. A number of analysts and cricket enthusiasts also commented against Bumrah due to his failure to appear in all the five Test matches of the England tour.
India was behind 1-2 going into the last match, and Bumrah was rested despite playing in three games. According to Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah’s bowling action frequently results in injuries, therefore it makes sense that he doesn’t play every game right now given how much cricket he has played over the years.
“Considering how many years Bumrah has been playing and competing in all formats, it is tough for anyone to sustain that. Given the kind of bowling action Bumrah has, injuries can happen to him or anyone. I had no problem with him playing three out of five matches,” Bhuvneshwar said as quoted by NDTV Sports.
‘Bumrah Doesn’t Need to Play Every Game to Make an Impact’ – Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar also stated that even if Bumrah does not play every game in a series, his efforts justified the selectors’ decision. During his three Anderson-Tendulkar encounters, Bumrah took 14 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.
“If the selectors know what he can offer and are comfortable with it, it is because they know he can still make a big impact in those three games. If a player might not play all five matches but can contribute significantly in three, that should be acceptable – people do not always understand how tough it is to keep playing for so many years across formats. There is pressure as well. If you want someone to play for long, you have to manage him well. So, I did not have any problem.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bumrah is set to play for India in the Asia Cup 2025, but he will be rested for the first Test against the West Indies to manage his workload.
