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'Workload Management Is Bullsh*t,': Ex India Pacer Slams BCCI And Jasprit Bumrah

Rajgeeta∙ Updated: Jan 7 2025, 11:10 AM

Jasprit Bumrah against Australia [Source: AP]Jasprit Bumrah against Australia [Source: AP]

With the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 wrapped up, one name stood out for India despite their series loss — Jasprit Bumrah. The lead pacer finished the series with impressive figures, claiming 32 wickets in five matches at an astonishing average of just over 13. His performance included three five-wicket hauls, making him one of the standout players of the series.

However, during the final Test in Sydney, Bumrah was forced to leave the field after bowling 10 overs in the first innings due to a back injury scare. This led to Virat Kohli taking over the captaincy duties for the remainder of the match. With Bumrah’s history of stress fractures and injuries, talks about managing his workload have been circulating once again. 

But former Indian pacer Balwinder Singh Sandhu doesn’t agree with the idea of workload management and didn’t hold back his thoughts on the matter.

In an exclusive interview with Times of India, Sandhu, who was part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad, expressed his displeasure about the ongoing workload management discussions surrounding Bumrah.

"Workload? How many overs did he bowl? 150-something, right? But in how many matches or innings? Five matches or nine innings, correct? That comes down to 16 overs per innings or 30 overs per match. And he didn’t bowl those 15-plus overs in one go. He bowled in spells. So, is it a big deal? Workload management is bull****. These are Australian terms, created by Australians. Workload management is nothing. I don’t agree with this. I come from an era when cricketers used to listen to their bodies and no one else. I don’t agree with this at all," Sandhu said.

Sandhu believes that bowling 15 overs in a day, spread across different spells, is not a demanding task for a professional bowler. 

"Bowling 15 overs in a day, in different spells, is nothing. You’re not bowling all five days of a Test match. Today’s cricketers have the best physios, masseurs, and doctors to take care of their bodies. If a bowler can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India," Sandhu added.

Balwinder Sandhu’s Take On Modern-Day Cricket

Sandhu didn’t stop there. He also added that how bowlers from the past bowled significantly more overs during matches without relying on modern-day support systems.

"In our time, we used to bowl 25 to 30 overs in a day. Kapil Dev bowled long spells throughout his career. Your body and muscles get conditioned when you bowl regularly. That’s how you build endurance," Sandhu explained.

"If you want to represent India in Test cricket, you must be prepared to bowl at least 20 overs in an innings. If you can’t, then go back to playing T20 cricket, where you only need to bowl four overs. Even those four overs are spread across three spells," Sandhu concluded.

What's Next For Jasprit Bumrah?

There’s still no official update on the extent of Bumrah’s injury. However, he is unlikely to play in the upcoming white-ball series against England, which kicks off on January 22. The two teams will face off in five T20Is and three ODIs before the Champions Trophy begins on February 19.