Jasprit Bumrah had a stellar performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, taking 32 wickets in nine innings at an average of 13.06. During the series, he bowled a total of 151.2 overs.

However, he suffered a back spasm during the final Test in Sydney, which prevented him from bowling in the second innings, which played a key role in India’s defeat and Australia’s series win.

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Bumrah’s injury update is still unclear but he is unlikely to feature in the upcoming white-ball series against England starting on January 22. With the Champions Trophy scheduled for February, the Indian team would want him to fully recover before the 50-over tournament.

Bumrah’s bowling numbers: Not a big deal according to Sandhu

Speaking to the Times of India, former India pacer Balwinder Sandhu, a 1983 World Cup winner, criticized the concept of workload management in cricket and questioned whether Bumrah’s workload was excessive.

He noted that Bumrah bowled an average of 16 overs per innings and argued that it was no big deal as those overs were bowled in multiple spells rather than continuously.

“Workload? How many overs did he bowl? 150-something, right? But in how many games or innings? Five games 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 cast spells,” Sandhu told the Times of India.

Sandhu dismissed the concept of workload management as an “Australian concept”, saying it was unnecessary. He said that in his day players listened to their bodies rather than seeking outside advice, and this allowed them to develop stamina naturally.

“So, is it a big deal? Workload management is nonsense. These are Australian terms, created by Australians. Workload management is nothing. “I don’t agree with this,” he added.

Bowling 15 to 20 overs: a manageable task

Sandhu also stated that bowling 15 to 20 overs in a day, spread over spells, is not too demanding for a bowler. He believes that modern players, with access to advanced recovery methods, should meet this standard to play Test cricket effectively.

“Playing 15 overs in a day, and that too in different periods, is not a big deal for a bowler. You will not bowl during the five days of a Test match. It took him three or four spells to bowl those overs. Today you have the best physios, the best masseuses and excellent doctors to take care of your body. If a bowler cannot bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India,” he further stated.

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For Sandhu, a bowler unable to withstand the rigors of Test cricket should focus on shorter formats like T20, where only four overs are required. He said Test cricket demands a higher level of stamina and stamina, which should be non-negotiable for players.

“If you want to represent India, you must 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 T20, where you only need to bowl four overs. Even those four overs are bowled in three spells,” he added.

Sandhu explains why long spells build better bowlers

Drawing comparisons with his times, Sandhu praised Kapil Dev for regularly bowling for long spells of 25 to 30 overs a day. He highlighted that bowlers back then conditioned their bodies by bowling consistently, which he believes is key to success in Test cricket.

“We used to bowl 25-30 overs in a day. Kapil (Dev) has played long spells throughout his career. “Your body and your muscles get conditioned when you bowl, bowl, bowl,” he concluded.

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