Irfan Pathan Doesn’t Mince Words on Jasprit Bumrah Load Management

Former fast bowler indirectly tears into Jasprit Bumrah's workload management saga.

Irfan Pathan Doesn’t Mince Words on Jasprit Bumrah Load Management

Jasprit Bumrah and Irfan Pathan (Image via India Today)

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India had closely fought the recently concluded Test series against England in England, with the end result being 2-2. Many had praised the hard-fought cricket, the banter and moments of bravado that surrounded the cricket. Individuals like Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja got special mentions for their contributions.

However, around all the positivity, there has been a relentless discussion about workload management. With Jasprit Bumrah at the epicenter of it, playing only 3 out of the 5 test matches in the series, there were many experts who raised question marks about India’s star bowler.

When Mohammed Siraj bowled balls above 140 kmph on the last day of the last match, which effectively was the 25th day of the series, discussions grew stronger. Many felt Bumrah could have also done what Siraj did.

Few commented the other way round as well, saying that Siraj too deserved a break like Bumrah, considering that he too is a fast bowler with a human body which can attract unfortunate injuries. In a recent chat with Lallantop, former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan gave his verdict on the scenario.

Once you go in, you wear the Indian jersey. After that, do not look back. Then you cannot say that I will bowl only four overs or three overs. People do not just say this, they also do it. This is the trend these days.

Irfan Pathan said

Pathan didn’t mention Bumrah’s name explicitly, but it was clear that he was signaling towards the bowler as he was in the discussions of load management right throughout. There were talks of Bumrah bowling carefully even in the matches he was a part of, which didn’t sit right with many fans. When asked whether he was talking about Jasprit Bumrah, Pathan had this to say:

I am talking about everyone. It is not just about one player. It is about everyone. Siraj was bowling at a speed of 145 kmph on the last day of the last Test. There is a workload for him too, brother. It is for everyone. But once you get in, you put in your all.

Irfan Pathan added

Pathan once again didn’t take Bumrah’s name, but it was evident that he was talking about him after he praised the intensity Siraj showed in the last Test match. He mentioned that even Siraj has a workload of his own. Regardless of anything, he bowls his heart out to secure a win for the country.

Jasprit Bumrah’s outing in the 3 matches he was a part of in England didn’t fetch wins

Jasprit Bumrah has made it clear well in advance of the five-match series that he would take part in only three of the Test matches to manage his workload. However, he hadn’t disclosed which ones he would be a part of. That was a big reason for Bumrah not accepting the captaincy as well after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format.

Bumrah in just his three matches took 14 wickets, displaying the champion bowler he is. He did this at an impressive average of just 26. Those 14 wickets also included two five wicket hauls in Edgbaston and Lord’s.

Jasprit Bumrah during the recently concluded England series.
Jasprit Bumrah (via Deccan Herald)

As luck would have it, India couldn’t manage to win any of the three matches that Bumrah was a part of. They lost at both Edgbaston and Lord’s and managed to draw the Old Trafford Test match. That made Bumrah the only Indian player to have not been part of a winning dressing room in the series.

The glaring statistic amidst all this was his inability to bowl 140+ kmph balls as the series went on. In the first match at Edgbaston, Bumrah bowled 106 balls above 140 kmph, which was 39.84% of the deliveries he bowled.

In the Lord’s Test, which was the third match, he bowled 69 such high pace balls which was 26.84% of his balls bowled. To the shock of everyone, he could only bowl one solitary ball above 140 kmph in the Old Trafford Test, which was an insignificant 0.57% of his balls bowled.

His dropping of pace so heavily suggested his body was just not ready for bowling overs in the longest format. Will he take a break from the upcoming home Test season is a question many want the answer to.

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