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Jasprit Bumrah Workload - (Source: AP/X.com)
Let's rewind to the hours before the start of the 2024 T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa in Barbados. The moment where the end of the 11-year-long ICC trophy drought seemed possible and imagine a news broke out that Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the all-important final because of workload management.
A feeling of frustration, curiosity and anger would emerge in every Indian cricket fan. Such is the situation at present, when reports suggest that Bumrah is all but out of the series-decider Test against England.
The series is at stake, and the medical team has warned against playing Bumrah for the 5th Test. It was pre-decided that the right-arm seamer would only play three Tests because of potential damage to his back if he gets more game time. But is the management afraid to attempt a win at a cost of an injured Bumrah over a defeat in Bumrah's absence?
Bumrah's Workload: A Genuine Concern Or Merely An Assumption?
No doubt, Jasprit is arguably the world's best bowler, but the absence of the best in the most important match is a shame for Indian cricket and the fans. Its a classic case of Fitness vs. Form Paradox where Bumrah remains India’s leading strike bowler, having taken 14 wickets so far during this England series and spearheading the attack whenever he has played.
The decision to rest him now, when India are trailing the series 1-2 and facing a must-win situation, contradicts the fundamental sporting principle of fielding your best team when the stakes are highest.
In the ongoing tour, Jasprit missed the second Test, but is now being rested merely on the assumption that he might get injured. It leaves us with two questions - Is Bumrah at that big of a risk that bowling 30 odd more overs than his set workload plan could potentially put him at a risk of life-threatening and career-ending injury?
If so, then workload is merely an escape, as such injury can occur at any stage of his career, even after a long break.
No Important Games: A Risk Not Worth Taking?
Second being if Bumrah only risks another setback that can rule him out of action for 2 or 3 months, then why not take the risk?
Bumrah is not injured at present; he is being rested due to fear of injury recurrence and fatigue. Yet, the biggest risk in elite sport is not always physical breakdown—it is missing out on winning moments. India’s chance to level the series risks being lost by not playing their match-winner.
India have no bilateral series other than the Asia Cup in the next 3 months, and missing the continental Cup won't make any difference to the defending champions as the Suryakumar Yadav-led side also lifted the title in 2023 without Jasprit.
Fast bowlers, by their very nature, are injury-prone. While careful risk management is important, excessive protection rarely guarantees immunity. Bumrah has already bowled 120 overs in three Tests with little trouble, except for signs of fatigue and a minor limp during his last outing, where he delivered 33 overs—the most in a single innings for him. Resting now may not significantly reduce future injury risk but does deny India his presence in a crucial decider.
WTC Events Lack A Motivation Like White-Ball Tournaments
WTC Mace is one silverware still left to be conquered by India. The Shubman Gill-led side have reached the final twice, but failed to lift the trophy once. Unlike other ICC events, the WTC is a two-year-long event, which gives players a feeling that they can rest or skip games. However, white-ball events are knockout events, giving a sense of feeling that they are unmissable.
This issue needs to be resolved as the upcoming fifth Test vs England is not just the last match of a series, but the result can decide India's fate in their current WTC run.
Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep's Efforts Defies The Workload Rulebook
While Bumrah is being treated carefully and looked after, what about the efforts of Rishabh Pant and Akash Deep, who are risking their career span after playing for the nation despite injuries?
Rishabh Pant suffered a toe fracture and was advised to rest. However, the southpaw walked to bat so that India could add runs to the board and stay alive in the match.
Pant risked his leg as the injury could have aggravated and extended his recovery time. So if Pant and the likes of Akash Deep, who played despite a hip discomfort, can play, then why not Bumrah, when it's just a matter of one match.
Ben Stokes' Example: The Way Forward For Bumrah
On Wednesday, July 30, England announced the squad for the 5th Test against India. Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth Test because of a shoulder niggle.
Notably, the England captain suffered a niggle in the fourth Test, but yet continued to bowl as he knew that it was now or never. If he had not put his 100% in the fourth Test, then resting for a few times and winning other games wouldn't have mattered if England had no favourable result in Manchester.
Similarly, for Jasprit, the fifth Test against England is equivalent to any other big ICC event, and his participation is of utmost importance even if it comes at a cost of a slight niggle. There is always a risk of injury in fast bowling, but elite sport is about managing—not eliminating—risk. In trying to safeguard India's greatest asset, the management risks denying the team and fans priceless moments when they matter most.
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