As India gears up for the five-match Test series against England starting June 20 at Headingley, discussions around Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management have taken center stage. Returning from a recent back injury that kept him out for nearly two months—including India's Champions Trophy victory—Bumrah’s availability is being weighed with caution by former players and cricket experts.
Among them, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has offered a tactical suggestion: rest Bumrah for the first Test and deploy him in the second (Edgbaston) and third (Lord’s) matches, where his skillset could prove most decisive.
“You’ve got to be very strategic with those three Test matches. Where are you going to get the most benefit out of him? Because he can turn the game—he can turn the series on its head,” Hogg told RevSportz.
Hogg also suggested that benching Bumrah in the opener could serve a psychological advantage, potentially lulling England into complacency before India unleashes its ace pacer in the later fixtures.
This line of thinking echoes sentiments previously voiced by Sourav Ganguly, who cautioned against overworking Bumrah. Ganguly emphasized the need for other pacers to step up, while warning that mismanaging Bumrah’s overs could result in recurring injury setbacks—similar to what happened after the Australia tour.
Indian captain Shubman Gill, however, clarified that there will be no fixed plan for Bumrah’s selection. His involvement will be assessed match-by-match, based on pitch conditions and his fitness status.
Meanwhile, head coach Gautam Gambhir has also indicated that Bumrah may play in only three of the five Tests, highlighting the depth of India’s pace attack and the team’s commitment to preserving their strike bowler for crucial moments.