Breaking down India's over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah when he plays Test cricket

Indian Express

3 hours ago

Over the English summer, the debate around Jasprit Bumrah's workload reached dizzying heights. Despite being hailed as the best red-ball pace bowler of the current generation, if he is unable to last a full Test series, either due to injury or a pre-decided schedule, should he be India's first choice?
It's a question that is perhaps not going to go away anytime soon, but a look at his bowling returns, purely in terms of the number of overs, tell a story. The last two Test series India have played have both been strenuous overseas five-match clashes against top sides, and Bumrah has played eight of those matches.
After the Australia tour, as is well publicised now, the load of bowling at high intensity right through the series eventually led to him walking off midway through the final match in Sydney. Then he underwent a rehab process for his back, missed the ICC Champions Trophy, came back during the IPL, and it was made clear well in advance that he'd not play the full series in England.
ONTO THE LORD'S HONOURS BOARD! 🙌
With 11 fifers, #JaspritBumrah has now equalled Wasim Akram's record for most 5-wicket hauls in SENA countries! 👏#ENGvIND 👉 3rd TEST, DAY 2 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/mg732Jcoq5 pic.twitter.com/I6fu3u3BRk
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 11, 2025
Across the last two Test tours, Bumrah has bowled 273 out of India's 1107.5 overs, which comes to 24.7%. It is a staggering number in itself but also a marker of how much India depend on him – and Mohammed Siraj, of course – for breakthroughs. That means Bumrah bowls 1/4th of India's overs whenever he plays, despite India often playing at least five bowling options. In Manchester, Bumrah bowled 33 overs, the second-most he has bowled in a Test innings, which would explain why, despite being in a must-win situation going to The Oval, India resisted the temptation to tax Bumrah's body further.
While the numbers paint a picture, the intangibles are there too. Like, the nature of pitches right through the England series, as the hosts preferred to have flat tracks full of runs, for the most part.
In Manchester, when Bumrah and India struggled (he conceded more than 100 runs in an innings for the first time in his career, another staggering stat), bowling coach Morne Morkel explained why it was a struggle for India.
'We are finding it to hard to create pressure from the other end. For him (Bumrah) to be successful, we need to build partnerships. The other guys need to help him out and I think at times, the guys are also trying from the other end, they are a little bit greedy — trying to strive too much and that's how we leak and sort of release that pressure. You can't say anything about Bumrah, he's number one in the world, he's skillful. At times, you need help from the other end,' the former South Africa pacer said.
While Siraj has rightly been praised for being the only pacer – across both teams – to last the entire series, their workloads can't be put on the same weighing scale. Sitanshu Kotak, India's batting coach, had said at the start of the series that the workload analysis is different for each individual. Later in Manchester, he went into it in more detail, speaking in terms of Siraj being able to take more load on his shoulders.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another five-star show from #JaspritBumrah! 🔥
The pace ace picks up his 12th five-wicket haul (Joint-most by an Indian pacer overseas) outside India wrapping up England's innings! 🇮🇳🎯
#ENGvIND 1st Test Day 3 LIVE NOW Streaming on JioHotstar 👉… pic.twitter.com/5b2WUEA4Gg
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 22, 2025
'Before the Test series, if a bowler puts in a certain amount of overs per week, if he's preparing for T20 and putting in 20 overs, 25 overs, 6 overs every day for example, that is good enough workload for T20,' Kotak said.
'They have GPS. It shows the record of how many overs the bowler has put in throughout the week. And they're in constant touch with the bowling coach and S&C (strength & conditioning) coach even during the IPL. So, the build-up of the last 4-5 weeks, you need to determine if there's no spike in it.
'So, what's the spike? If a bowler is putting in 30 overs per week, and suddenly, in the first innings, he's put in 35 overs, that's the spike in his load. So, the number of overs that Siraj is putting in every week, it's not necessary that it's due to practice. That load is due to the match as well. Then it depends on whether Siraj himself, or the physio, feels that he is tired. Then, they will think about the load. Otherwise, his bowling load is very high.'
Perth 1st innings: 18 out of 51.2 (most)
Perth 2nd innings: 12 out of 58.4 (4th most)
Adelaide 1st innings: 23 out 87.3 (2nd most behind Siraj 24.3)
Adelaide 2nd innings: 1 out of 3.2
Brisbane 1st innings: 28 out of 117.1 (2nd most behind Akash Deep 29.5)
Brisbane 2nd innings: 6 out of 18 (2nd most behind Siraj)
Melbourne 1st innings: 28.4 out of 122.4 (Most)
Melbourne 2nd innings: 24.4 out of 83.4 (Most)
Sydney 1st innings: 10 out of 51 (3rd most)
Sydney 2nd innings: Didn't bowl
Leeds 1st innings: 24.4 out of 100.4 (2nd most)
Leeds 2nd innings: 19 out of 82 (2nd most behind Jadeja)
Lord's 1st innings: 27 out of 112.3 (Most)
Lord's 2nd innings: 16 out of 62.1 (Most)
Manchester 1st innings: 33 out of 157.1 (2nd most)