Jasprit Bumrah is a crucial pillar of India’s bowling attack, but allowing him to pick and choose matches could disrupt team balance and increase pressure on other pacers. Data shows that Jasprit Bumrah has struggled with injuries and workload management, so a structured rest plan is vital rather than an ad-hoc approach. A consistent, well-managed schedule can help maintain his fitness and effectiveness over the long term.
Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh has come in support of Jasprit Bumrah after the premier pacer faced scrutiny for his workload management on the England tour. It was pre-decided before India travelled to England for the five-match series that Bumrah would play only three games. Sticking to that plan, the team kept him out of the final match at The Oval, even with the series hanging in the balance. He claimed a couple of five-wicket hauls in the three Tests he played, but didn’t create much of an impact.
It was Mohammed Siraj, who turned out to be the standout bowler in the series, as he also played all five Tests. Meanwhile, after the series ended, several former cricketers, including Irfan Pathan, Sandeep Patil, Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohammad Azharuddin, were critical of Bumrah for picking and choosing matches to manage workload.
Jasprit Bumrah – A fast bowling superstar of India and his tryst with injuries
The 31-year-old Jasprit Bumrah is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian bowlers of all time, with comparisons often being drawn between him and the greatest players in world cricket. What makes Bumrah’s bowling special is that he isn’t limited to one format; he has proven his ability in all formats of the game, including T20Is, ODIs and Test cricket.
Nine years since he made his debut for India, Jasprit Bumrah has done some bloody special things for India. So much so that after only 45 Tests, he is being spoken in the same breath as some of India’s legendary fast bowlers, such as Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, and Zaheer Khan.
Indian star seamer Jasprit Bumrah will go down in history as one of the greatest fast bowlers. Arguably, he is touted as the greatest modern-day bowler. However, one major setback with Bumrah is that he is susceptible to injuries. Jasprit Bumrah, who made his India debut in 2016, has been Men in Blue’s match-winner from the first game but has often missed most of the action because of injuries. Recently, Jasprit Bumrah injured his back and was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Similarly, the MI star has missed the T20 World Cup 2022 and Asia Cup as well because of injuries. Thus, this article will shed light on Jasprit Bumrah’s injury history. Jasprit Bumrah had a smooth first two years with the Indian team, but his tryst with injuries began in 2018 when India toured Ireland.
When India toured Ireland for the T20I series, Bumrah fractured his left thumb when he tried to take a catch, but the ball hit him on his thumb. He was ruled out of the T20I series and also the first two Tests against England.
Injury Duration: 21 Days
Jasprit Bumrah’s tryst with back issues started in 2019 when India toured West Indies. He completed the tour and shone in that Test series, but upon returning to India, Jasprit Bumrah faced discomfort with his back, and the scans revealed a stress fracture. As a result, Jasprit was out of action for three months and had to skip the crucial South Africa series.
Injury Duration: 90 Days
Similar to the current BGT scenario, Jasprit Bumrah suffered an injury in the January Sydney Test in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As a result, Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the fifth Test, which was the iconic Gabba Test.
Injury Duration: 14 Days
Jasprit Bumrah’s biggest and worst injury of his career came in August 2022 when he again suffered a back injury. Jasprit Bumrah suffered back spasms and he was ruled out of Asia Cup 2022 which was in August itself. Soon after the ICC event, Jasprit Bumrah felt better and returned for a few bilateral games, but was again ruled out of the action because of the same injury. It eventually grew and Bumrah had to undergo a back surgery.
As a result, the Right-arm seamer missed the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and was also out of IPL 2023 as he was recovering from a back injury. Jasprit Bumrah also failed to recover in time for the 2023 WTC final. It was only during the T20I tour against Ireland in August 2023 that Jasprit Bumrah returned to action.
Injury Duration: 11 months
Following Bumrah’s injury debacle from 2022-23, the BCCI has very carefully utilised their valuable asset. They have managed his workload, but eventually, Bumrah succumbed to the pressure and injured his back during the 5th Test of the BGT recently. He missed the play on day 4 and day 5 and was on a 3 month absence , following a bed-rest advice for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and subsequently significant part of IPL 2025.
Injury Duration: 03 months
While injuries goes hand by hand with Indian star bowler Jasprit Bumrah who bolsters a terrific record in all the three formats of the game, recently opened up on his future in cricket and how will he manage his retirement plans and injury management going forward. He also spilled light upon why he was not interesting captaining India in the red ball format.
Before the five-match series began in England, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir said Jasprit Bumrah wouldn’t feature in more than three Tests on tour due to workload management. Bumrah featured in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, followed by the third and fourth games at Lord’s and Old Trafford, Manchester, respectively.
In three games, Jasprit Bumrah picked 14 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, coming off bowling 119.4 overs at an average of 26 to be the leading wicket-taker for India in the ongoing series. Jasprit Bumrah could have been expected to play in the fifth Test at The Oval, but he wasn’t included in the playing eleven
Above references only prroves that when Jasprit Bumrah had to give it all he has given it , the recent example being the BGT 2024-25 where the pacer was a one man army with 32 wickets before being injured. While many trolled Jasprit Bumrah for his workload management issues , Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh came in support of this Indian super star pacer citing him as a wise man.
Jasprit Bumrah is the most honest cricketer- Harbhajan Singh
A debate over Jasprit Bumrah potentially skipping the 4th Test against England in Manchester intensified, the subject of ‘workload management’ became a hot topic of debate again. Even before the series started, India head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified that Jasprit Bumrah will only feature in three Tests of the five on the England tour.
Having already played two, Jasprit Bumrah will play just one of the remaining two matches of the series. But, is that right considering the series is on the line, with India losing 2 of the first 3 matches? For former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh, ‘workload management’ is a completely new thing.
“See, workload management is a new thing. Once IPL came, people said that I will bowl 24 balls in a match and they will be absolutely spot on, and that is how people trained. If you go back in the past? What was workload? Workload was fitness. Players played 5-match series in the past as well. But yes, if someone is concerned about the injury, then you need to be careful,” Harbhajan Singh said.
Harbhajan called Bumrah an ‘honest cricketer’ who will do what his body allows. But, the Turbanator also admitted that the marquee pacer over-bowled himself in Australia, which led to injuries.
“But see, Jasprit is the most honest cricketer out there. If he is not in pain, he will not only bowl a 4-over spell, he will bowl a 10-over spell for you. He did that in Australia as well. He bowled so much there that he got injured. His action contributes to that well.
His run-up is short, and you have to bowl at high speed, so the finishing of his action puts a lot of stress on the body. If his body is well, make him play 5 Tests. If he plays 5 Tests, India will win the series. Ask any opposition, they will say that they do not prefer facing Bumrah,” he added.
Harbhajan Singh highlighted that even though Mohammed Siraj has lately picked up that responsibility well, it is unrealistic to expect him or any fast bowler for that matter to sustain that level throughout the year.
“Siraj did it recently, but he can’t do that for a whole year. There can come a series when you feel like you need to put in the extra effort and need to take a toll on the body. Bumrah did that in Australia, and in the end, he broke down. Siraj took it as well, and let’s hope that he does not break down. I think a player’s honesty is most important in this regard,” he added.
The talks about Jasprit Bumrah’s workload is getting more footage only due to the fact that 2 matches which India won to draw level the series 2-2 was in absense of Jasprit Bumrah . This raises a certain doubt about What is Jasprit Bumrah’s actual role in the Team … To inspire youngsters or to just add on to the spot in the Indian team .
Jasprit Bumrah’s frequent injuries have kept him out of action, and during those times, the team has showcased its ability to win without him. His absence from key tournaments like the 2022 T20 World Cup, 2023 WTC Final, and 2025 Champions Trophy has provided opportunities for others to shine, further solidifying the team’s bench strength.
Not because we don’t need Bumrah, but perhaps because we need him more elsewhere. The T20 World Cup is coming up next year, and the ODI World Cup follows in 2027. India have long dreamt of building a streak of ICC trophy wins and establishing themselves as a dominant force. Bumrah could be the key to that enviable dream. Surely, the BCCI knows it.
It would allow India to firm up a regular bowling attack in Tests, because let’s be honest, constant chopping and changing hampers rhythm and team plans. A few fans have also said that allowing one member of the team to pick and choose games can set a bad precedent, but if that’s the case, the team management would be the first to act.
What we clearly know is that for the first time, Jasprit Bumrah is looking mortal. But if managed well, he can still take India to major trophy wins, which is what he deserves.
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