The workload management strategy for star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will remain unchanged, according to Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, even after the team’s loss in Leeds. Gambhir made it clear that the fast bowler would only play three Test matches during the current England tour.
India lost the first Test by five wickets against England at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday, June 24. The hosts managed to rally to a mammoth but never-before-seen chase in their 82 overs in the final session of Day 5 to achieve their second-biggest chase in the world of Test cricket of 371 runs. England had a lustrous chase led by Ben Duckett (149). In the context of India Bumrah, who took five wickets on day one, ended up bowling 0-57 in the second.
Gambhir was asked if India would consider changing their initial workload management strategy for Bumrah during a press conference held after the game. But the former India opener responded with a hard stance. According to TOI, he stated:
At the post-match presentation following India’s five-wicket loss in Leeds, skipper Shubman Gill was also asked if the visitors had decided which three Tests Bumrah would be playing. He replied that the team would take it game-by-game. Gill said:
“Haven’t decided which two matches Bumrah will play but he will play total of three. We need to manage his workload. Scoreline doesn’t change that… he will play three Tests only.”
In addition, captain Shubman Gill was questioned about if the visitors had chosen which three Test matches Bumrah would play during the post-match presentation after India’s five-wicket defeat in Leeds. “The team will take it game-by-game,” he responded. Gill stated:
“It’s decided game-by-game. Once we’re close to the next game after a long break, we’ll see.”
In the Leeds Test, Bumrah took the first three wickets to fall in England’s opening innings. After dismissing Joe Root, Duckett, and Zak Crawley, he came back to take the final two wickets to seal a well-earned five-fer. However, the right-arm pacer did not have much of an impact in the second innings. Despite bowling 19 overs, India’s top bowler failed to claim any wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah’s terrific Test numbers
Jasprit Bumrah has a great record in Test cricket. With the help of 14 five-fers and seven four-fers, he has taken 210 wickets at an average of 19.60 in 46 games. Amazingly, 12 of his 14 five-fers have been away from home, including two in the West Indies, three apiece in England and South Africa, and four in Australia.
The right arm pacer had a spectacular stint in the Australian tour where he had picked 32 wickets. Nevertheless, he failed to play in the final day of the series to catch an injury to his back. The excessive use of Bumrah in the Indian tour put the topic of management of his workload into perspective.
