Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s lynchpin. The ace fast bowler has been absolutely magnificent this year and in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has picked up 53 wickets at a staggering average of 15.28 in 2024.
He is the leading wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, having taken 12 wickets at an average of 11.25. Bumrah has looked threatening almost every time he has bowled and has troubled the Australian batters big time. He starred in Perth where he captained and bowled India to victory, returning with figures of 5/30 & 3/42. He was India’s best bowler in Adelaide, taking 4/61 in 23 overs.
However, there was a minor concern in that pink-ball Test. Bumrah was seen holding his muscle on the inner thigh midway through the 81st over of Australia’s first innings. The Indian physio ran out to the middle to attend to the 31-year-old pacer.
Bumrah went on to complete the over and also sent down three more overs in that innings. He even bowled a solitary over in the second innings when Australia needed just 19 to get.
That is something that Damien Fleming was confused about. He questioned why Bumrah was called upon to bowl the opening over in Australia’s run-chase. The former Australia pacer thinks that there are some serious concerns over Bumrah’s fitness as he dished out deliveries which were barely reaching 130 kmph in the second innings.
“There’s got to be some serious doubts. Siraj might be workload [related] but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand. There’s got to be some serious doubts. Siraj might be workload [related] but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand,” Damien Fleming was quoted saying to SEN Radio.
‘Want to keep Bumrah fresh’: Rohit Sharma
Bumrah has bowled a total of 54 overs in this series. Rohit Sharma acknowledged the fact that he wants to keep his premier fast bowler fresh all the time. The Indian captain even revealed that he constantly talks to fast bowlers and Bumrah, in particular, about how fresh he is feeling.
“I keep talking to him (Bumrah) during his spells, asking how his body is holding up. It’s a five-Test series, and we want Bumrah to be fresh and play all five matches. It’s important to analyze these things. Workload management is crucial. Planning always happens. You can’t expect Bumrah to bowl from both ends, from morning to evening. It’s important to manage the bowlers. We talk to them and then make decisions,” Rohit Sharma was quoted saying in the press conference.
There is a short turnaround between the second and third Test matches. While the pink-ball Test in Adelaide finished inside two and a half days, it has given the fast bowlers some extra time off. The third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane will start on the 14th of December.
