Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra believes Jasprit Bumrah’s workload must be managed carefully, arguing that India cannot afford to treat a generational fast bowler like any other player.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Chopra said the debate around resting pace bowlers needs to be viewed through the lens of the individual player, particularly when it comes to someone of Bumrah’s importance to the Indian team.
“If you have a genius like Jasprit Bumrah, and if his body needs some rest, if his load needs to be managed, why would you not do it?” Chopra said.
‘Jasprit Bumrah is a genius’
Bumrah’s importance to India’s bowling attack has made his workload one of the more closely watched issues around the team, particularly given the demands placed on fast bowlers across formats.
Chopra believes the argument that a fit player should always be available does not necessarily apply to a player whose long-term fitness is as important as Bumrah’s.
“Just see, Bumrah is a genius. And there are many opinions of many people that if you are fit, then you should play. If you are not, then don’t play,” he said.
The former India opener stressed that India have enough depth to cope when Bumrah is unavailable, even if his absence inevitably weakens the attack.
“India will still manage. It will manage. Life goes on, whether there is someone or not,” Chopra said.
But that, he believes, is precisely why India should be willing to take a more flexible approach with their premier fast bowler.
‘Why would you not do it?’
For Chopra, workload management is not about unnecessarily keeping Bumrah out of matches. It is about recognising when his body needs a break and making decisions with the bigger picture in mind.
“But if you have a genius like Bumrah, if his body needs some rest, if his load needs to be managed, why would you not do it? It’s a very simple thing,” he said.
Bumrah’s value to India means the team’s management has to think beyond the next match or series. With international cricket demanding increasingly heavy workloads from fast bowlers, preserving the 32-year-old’s fitness for the assignments where India need him most could be just as important as having him available for every game.
For Chopra, the equation is straightforward: India can survive without Bumrah for a period, but keeping their biggest bowling asset fit for the long term should take priority.