India's Jasprit Bumrah dilemma: Protect the body or preserve his magic

India Today

2 days ago

Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian team management may soon be staring down an impossible choice: protect a fragile, injury-prone body or preserve the very skillset that made him one of the greatest fast bowlers of this generation. And in the noise surrounding workload management and pick-and-choose games, that decision is growing more urgent with each passing day.By his own high standards, Bumrah has had a quiet tour of England. The pacer picked up 14 wickets in three matches, but you could see that his effectiveness kept reducing over the course of the series. His spells haven't changed games the way they used to, and the spark that once made him unplayable in all conditions has flickered. But the broader conversation isn't just about form — it's about longevity.advertisementThankfully for India, the pipeline of talent is as rich as ever. Names like Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh and others offer depth, and the temptation for the team management to lean into rotation is real. This could be the moment to rethink how Bumrah is used — not just in the short term, but with an eye on whether he gets to bow out gracefully, or break down before he can.BURDEN OF FRAGILITY
There is always a fear that Bumrah will break down during a series (Courtesy: Reuters)
Injuries and Jasprit Bumrah have become a constant pairing. Even when he's fit, the undertone of worry never quite disappears. Is he nursing something? Will he last the whole series? What happens if he's pushed one spell too far?It's a tough tag to carry — to be seen not just as a match-winner, but as someone one sprint away from another layoff. The mental toll of that perception, though never publicly acknowledged, can't be discounted.Bumrah's story oddly mirrors that of Deku from My Hero Academia — a gifted individual who hurts himself every time he uses his powers. Deku eventually trained to control it. Bumrah, however, doesn't have the luxury of plot armour. Real bones break. Stress fractures don't fade with spirit alone.THE CALENDAR DOESN'T CAREIndia plays more cricket than almost any other team in the world. Test series, bilateral white-ball tours, ICC events, franchise cricket — it never stops. Bumrah, once an all-format warhorse, now appears only in select series and ICC tournaments. Yet, the injuries persist.Even that careful curation hasn't insulated him. Which raises a troubling question: is it even possible for Bumrah to keep playing Test cricket without risking long-term damage?OPTION 1: FEWER OVERS, BIGGER IMPACTIndia has already implemented a partial solution — restricting Bumrah's appearances in Tests. But perhaps it's time to go further. Limit his spells to short, explosive bursts. Use him like a heat-seeking missile, not as a workhorse. Get maximum impact in 4–5 over spells instead of 7–8.advertisementThis could work, especially on flat pitches or when the ball offers little. But in England, or in swing-friendly conditions, this approach could shift the burden onto other bowlers and dull Bumrah's threat over longer innings. You save the bowler, but you might lose the match.OPTION 2: TWEAK THE ACTION?
Bumrah's unorthodox action makes him special (Courtesy: Reuters)
If his body can't handle the current strain, do you change what makes him special?Bumrah's action is unorthodox — a short run-up, explosive leap, and a late whip of the wrist. It generates serious pace, but also places massive stress on the lower back — the same area that has sidelined him repeatedly.Reworking that action could reduce injury risk. But at what cost? His pace, his deception, his very effectiveness — all of it stems from that unique release. Change it, and you risk being the one who ruined the magic that makes him irreplaceable.Ultimately, the choice must rest with Bumrah and those he trusts. Does he want to continue playing all three formats? Is Test cricket still worth the pain? Is another stress fracture worth another comeback?advertisementBumrah is already one of the most respected pacers of his era — a bowler with a legacy. But to extend it, he might have to let go of parts of what made him great. There's no perfect answer. Just trade-offs.And maybe that's the real Jasprit Bumrah dilemma: not just saving his body or preserving his magic — but figuring out how much of himself he's still willing to risk in search of greatness.- Ends