“Workload management is bull**” - Former India pacer shuts down Jasprit Bumrah’s injury concerns in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former Indian pacer Balwinder Sandhu dismissed the notion of Jasprit Bumrah being overbowled during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The 31-year-old bowled more than 151 overs across the five Tests, including multiple spells in a long toil during the penultimate game at Melbourne.

Bumrah's excessive workload ultimately came back to bite India, with the ace pacer suffering a back injury midway through the first innings of the final Test in Sydney. The star seamer bowled only 10 overs in the first innings and did not take the field in the second innings as India failed to defend a sub-par total of 162 to surrender the series 1-3.

Yet, in an interview with The Times of India, Sandhu rubbished concerns about Bumrah's workload management and the pacer being over-bowled during the series.

"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," he said.

Sandhu added:

"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. We used to bowl 25–30 overs in a day. Kapil (Dev) has bowled long spells throughout his career. Your body and muscles get conditioned when you bowl, bowl, and bowl. So, I don’t agree with this workload management concept."

While Bumrah finished with 151.2 overs in the series, Mohammed Siraj, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins bowled even more with 153.2, 157.1, and 167 overs, respectively.

"If a bowler can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India" - Balwinder Sandhu

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

Balwinder Sandhu felt a pacer who doesn't have the ability to bowl at least 20 overs in an innings shouldn't be playing Test cricket.

Despite the injury and India's series defeat, Bumrah was named the Player of the Series for his incredible 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 in nine innings.

"Bowling 15 overs in a day, and that too in different spells, is not a big deal for a bowler. You’re not bowling on all five days of a Test match. He took three or four spells to bowl those overs. Today, you have the best physios, the best masseurs, and excellent doctors to take care of your body. If a bowler can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India," said Sandhu.

He added:

"If you want to represent India, you should have the strength to bowl at least 20 overs in an innings. If you can’t, then it’s better to go back and play T20s, where you only need to bowl four overs. Even those four overs are bowled in three spells."

Bumrah's absence was immensely felt in the final innings of the series finale at Sydney when Australia comfortably chased down 162 in only 27 overs with six wickets in hand.