“I don’t think we can blame the team management” - Indian legend makes huge statement on star cricketer after loss in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

India legend Sunil Gavaskar has refused to blame the team management for ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah's injury that forced him out of the second innings of the Sydney Test against Australia. Despite India's 1-3 loss in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series, Bumrah had a historic run with the ball, finishing with an incredible 32 wickets at an average of 13.06.

However, due to a back spasm, the 31-year-old was forced to miss the second half of India's first innings with the ball and the entire second innings in the Sydney encounter. Bumrah's absence proved costly as Australia easily chased down 162 in only 27 overs, with six wickets in hand.

Speaking to India Today about Bumrah's workload management through the series, Gavaskar said:

"I think they did what was best for the team, because without him, India would not have been in any position in the series. And therefore, when you have a bowler, who's taking the wickets, you tend to overbowl him to an extent and that is totally understandable. I don't think we can blame the team management for this because they and Bumrah were only looking to do what was good for the team at that particular point in time."

He added:

"I think what really took the load for him was the fourth day in Melbourne, where he bowled eight to nine different spells of three to four overs. And I think that really took a toll on his body. And there was actually a video of him saying to Rohit Sharma, ‘ab bass ho gaya’, and which actually tells you that even for a man who loves bowling, who enjoys taking wickets for India, the load had just got a little too much."

Bumrah bowled more than 53 overs across the two innings in the fourth Test in Melbourne, picking up eight wickets to keep India in the game.

He bowled more than 141 overs in the first four Tests, resulting in him bowling only 10 overs in the first innings of the Sydney Test before walking off the field with injury.

"I was praying overnight that he could maybe come and bowl just four or five overs with the new ball" - Sunil Gavaskar on Jasprit Bumrah

BORDER GAVASKAR TROPHY TEST: JAN 05 fifth NRMA Insurance Test - Source: Getty

Sunil Gavaskar believes India would have won the final Test against Australia had Jasprit Bumrah been able to bowl on the third day.

Chasing 162 on a spicy Sydney track, the Aussie batters feasted on some indifferent Indian bowling to complete a comfortable victory.

"Look, it's a back injury. Bumrah is a very, very dedicated cricketer. And so I think even if he had been a little bit able to bowl, he would have come out and bowled. Therefore, I was praying overnight that, he could maybe come and bowl just four or five overs with the new ball. And I knew that India would not be able to set Australia a target of more than 190 and 200. So if he could have come in bowl, four or five overs at the start, then that would have made a big difference," Gavaskar said in the same interview.

Despite India's defeat, Bumrah finished as the Player of the Series for his bowling heroics that included three 5-wicket and two 4-wicket hauls.