Kumar Stands Up for Bumrah’s Workload, Addressing Critics

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has come to the defense of Jasprit Bumrah, advocating for his approach to workload management, and providing a counterpoint to the criticisms leveled against him. Kumar underscored the often-overlooked physical and mental challenges that fast bowlers face when competing at the highest level, across all formats of the game. The comments were made amidst scrutiny regarding Bumrah’s participation in the Test series in England, where he was slated to play a limited number of matches. Despite pre-series planning that Bumrah would feature in only three out of five Tests, his absence in the deciding match triggered a wave of criticism. Bhuvneshwar argued that expecting Bumrah to play every match is not feasible, acknowledging the toll that fast bowling takes on the body. He highlighted the selectors’ awareness of Bumrah’s capabilities and the value he brings even in a reduced capacity. Kumar stated that prioritizing player management is crucial for longevity and sustained performance.