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Former Indian cricketer Balwinder Singh Sandhu shared a critical approach on workload management after fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah opted out of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. Member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, Balwinder feels that bowling 15-20 overs shouldn’t be a challenge for a bowler and slammed those who criticized the Indian team management for not managing Bumrah’s workload properly. Bumrah finished as a leading wicket taker in the 2024-25 BGT down under with 32 scalps and bowled over 150 overs throughout the series.
However, Jasprit Bumrah sustained back spasm during the first innings of the Sydney Test and didn’t come to bowl in the second innings. “Workload? How many overs did he bowl? 150-something, right? But in how many matches or innings? Five matches or nine innings, correct? That comes down to 16 overs per innings or 30 overs per match. And he didn’t bowl those 15-plus overs in one go. He bowled in spells. So, is it a big deal? Workload management is bull****. These are Australian terms, created by Australians,” Balwinder Singh Sandhu was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
We used to bowl 25–30 overs in a day: Balwinder Singh Sandhu
Speaking further, Balwinder Singh Sandhu said that a bowler should not think of playing for India if he can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings of a Test match. The former cricketer said that he doesn’t believe the idea of workload management as the muscles get conditioned according to a player's bowls.
“Bowling 15 overs in a day, and that too in different spells, is not a big deal for a bowler. You’re not bowling on all five days of a Test match. He took three or four spells to bowl those overs. Today, you have the best physios, the best masseurs, and excellent doctors to take care of your body. If a bowler can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India. If you want to represent India, you should have the strength to bowl at least 20 overs in an innings. If you can’t, then it’s better to go back and play T20s, where you only need to bowl four overs. Even those four overs are bowled in three spells,” Balwinder Singh Sandhu said.
“We used to bowl 25–30 overs in a day. Kapil (Dev) has bowled long spells throughout his career. Your body and muscles get conditioned when you bowl, bowl, and bowl. So, I don’t agree with this workload management concept,” the 1983 World Cup winner added.
