Gautam Gambhir & Co. responsible for Jasprit Bumrah’s injury? Sunil Gavaskar makes a bold claim
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has defended the management of the Indian cricket team after Jasprit Bumrah was forced to miss the second innings of the fifth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) due to back spasms.
Despite India’s 1-3 defeat in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah had an outstanding Australian tour, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with an incredible 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 and winning the Player of the Series award.
Sunil Gavaskar defends Indian cricket team management’s handling of Jasprit Bumrah on Australia tour
However, back spasms kept the 31-year-old pacer from bowling in the second innings, which proved costly for Team India as Australia easily chased down 162 in just 27 overs, with six wickets in hand, to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by winning the Test series 3-1 at home.
Amid heavy criticism for overworking Jasprit Bumrah during the five-match Test series, Sunil Gavaskar has said that the Indian cricket team management acted in the best interest of the team, as the absence of the main pacer at crucial times could have worsened their position.
Notably, Jasprit Bumrah bowled over 53 overs in two innings in the Boxing Day Test, taking eight wickets to keep India in the contest. Having already bowled more than 141 overs in the first four Tests, the Indian pacer managed to bowl just 10 overs in the first innings of the Sydney Test before being forced off the field with an injury, with many blaming the management for the situation. .
They did what was best for the team: Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar was quoted as saying in India Today: “I think they have done what is best for the team, because without him, India would not be in any position in the series. And so when you have a bowler who takes wickets, you tend to outscore him to some extent, and that’s completely understandable.
“I don’t think we can blame the team management for this because they and Bumrah just wanted to do what was right for the team at the time.”
Former Indian captain and one of the batting greats, Gavaskar admitted that Bumrah’s heavy workload, especially on the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, really took its toll on his body. He also mentioned how Bumrah asked Rohit Sharma not to bowl him at the MCG.
Sunil Gavaskar admits Jasprit Bumrah’s workload just got a little too much
The legendary cricketer further remarked, “I think what really put a strain on him was the fourth day in Melbourne, where he bowled eight to nine different spells in three to four overs. And I think it really took a toll on his body. And there was actually a video of him saying to Rohit Sharma, ‘Ab bass ho gaya’, which really tells you that even for a man who loves bowling, who enjoys taking wickets for India, the workload has become a little too much. “
He signed off by saying that Bumrah is a very committed cricketer, and if he could bowl at all, he would go out and bowl, and he hoped to bowl at least four or five overs at the start. , and that would have made a big difference, but it couldn’t happen.
