Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly one of India’s most crucial bowlers. However, a surprising trend has emerged in India’s Test match performance, showing a higher win rate in Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence. Here’s exploring the statistics behind this phenomenon and its potential causes.
In the series, Jasprit Bumrah played just three out of the five games, owing to workload management issues, but sill ended up picking 14 wickets including two five-wicket hauls. Many legends including Sunil Gavaskar has spoken out against workload management, and now former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has lashed out against it.
Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management- A selection dilenma or a thoughtful strategy
There is hard talk flowing about Jasprit Bumrah not playing the entire series , amidst the euphoria of the Indian cricket team’s remarkable win over England in the recent Oval Test, where the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar series ended 2-2, . That Jasprit Bumrah would not be part of all five Test matches was known before the first ball of the opening Test at Leeds was bowled.
Eyebrows were raised initially, but it didn’t take time for rage to set in when Jasprit Bumrah didn’t play the second Test at Birmingham, where India needed him to neutralise England’s series lead. Luckily for the visitors, a historic victory was achieved in Birmingham — their first at the venue in India vs England rivalry. Jasprit Bumrah played the third Test at Lord’s, but his seven scalps in the Test went in vain.
The fourth Test was drawn at Manchester, where Jasprit Bumrah played. Hopes were raised that the world’s most feared fast bowler would figure in the series-decider at the Oval, but he didn’t.
Critics refused to belt up, even as some allowances should be made for the danger of breaking down, which could lead to greater harm to our fast bowling treasure’s body. India got lucky again as others in the Mohammed Siraj-led bowling attack stepped up to guide India to a famous win on Monday. Amidst the heartburn over Jasprit Bumrah, it was the best possible end for India.
Moreover,Jasprit Bumrah is a three-format player. And not just any three-format player but inarguably the best in the world, which means every team wants him in the playing XI as often as possible. Seen through that lens, Bumrah’s 48 Tests are actually quite sizeable. And it’s not as if he’ll stop at that number either.
In the England series, by a strange quirk of fate, India won the two Tests in which Bumrah was rested. Predictably, that meant people drew a correlation between these two events. It should be emphatically said therefore, that an Indian Test XI with Bumrah in it will always be better than one without him in it. India did win the two Tests he didn’t feature in, but that’s just how cricket goes sometimes: the conditions are different, other players’ form is different, there might be a dose of luck that wasn’t there.
Even in defeats, Jasprit Bumrah averages 26 with the ball, which is just astounding. He is better than the par figures in an Indian attack on every single metric across wins, draws or defeats. Looking at the batting is even more instructive. In Test match wins Bumrah has been a part of, India’s collective batting average has been 33.4. In defeats, that number plummets to 21.8. And in the handful of draws, it’s 43.0. The conclusion is inescapable: batting collapses have been a big part of India’s defeats.
While many criticized the absense of Jasprit Bumrah in all important Oval test, Former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has slammed the maangement regarding workload issues for the fast bowlers.
Mohammad Azharuddin slams the Team management for resting Jasprit Bumrah in 2 Tests citing workload issues
Mohammad Azharuddin has minced no words in addressing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management, saying the concept needs to be strategically looked into and implemented better, given the current situation of India’s fast-bowling stocks.
Jasprit Bumrah played three out of the five Tests against England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and as it turned out, the games he missed were the ones India missed. However, the fact that India needs Jasprit Bumrah cannot be stressed enough, which is why the former India captain reckons the decision-makers need to figure out a way to ensure that the India pacer is available whenever the country needs him.
Jasprit Bumrah finished as the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the series with 14 scalps. While he may be nine behind the most successful bowler, Mohammed Siraj’s 23 scalps, the fact that Bumrah picked those many wickets in two Tests fewer proves why there’s no one quite like, or even close to him. Jasprit Bumrah picked up a five-for during the series opener at Leeds and picked up a four-wicket haul at Lord’s.
Unfortunately, India lost both those matches. Azharuddin applauded Siraj and Prasidh Krishna for the way they stepped up in Edgbaston and the Oval, but where Bumrah is concerned, he feels keeping him out when he isn’t injured isn’t the way to go about it. Mohammad Azharuddin, the former India captain, has said that it does not make sense for Jasprit Bumrah not to play for India when he’s injury-free. Azhar acknowledged the importance of managing workload but stressed the necessity of commitment to the national team.
“If there is an injury issue, then the Board and the player have to decide. However, I feel once you are in the team, you can’t pick and choose your matches. There is a workload, but at this level, you must manage it. You are playing for the country.
It was a different story that Siraj, along with Prasidh [Krishna] and Akash Deep, rose to the occasion, and we were fortunate that we could win without Bumrah, but what happens if India needs Bumrah badly in a particular situation?” Azharuddin was quoted as saying by Mid-day.
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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