Ravi Shastri warns of Bumrah overuse

Express Tribune

5 hours ago

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri on Saturday slammed the Indian bowling unit for its lacklustre performance and inability to take wickets during the ongoing Headingley Test against England.
According to Indian media, Shastri who was visibly disappointed, singled out Jasprit Bumrah as the only bowler performing up to the mark, while sharply criticising the rest of the attack for failing to support him.
"There's a big difference in levels. The concern is Bumrah and what his workload will be as the series progresses because he is the one man who is expected to pick wickets every spell he bowls," Shastri remarked.
He raised concerns about the lack of support from Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna, emphasising that overburdening Bumrah could prove costly for India in the remainder of the series.
"I just hope someone at the other end puts their hands up," he added, highlighting the urgent need for the other bowlers to shoulder responsibility and ease the pressure on Bumrah.
India started day two in a dominant position at 324/2, with Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill in full flow and on course for a massive first-innings total.
However, a dramatic lower-order collapse saw the last seven wickets fall for just 41 runs, leaving India all out for 471.
With the ball Bumrah once again shouldered the burden almost single-handedly.
He finished the day with impressive figures of 3/48 in 13 overs, dismissing Zak Crawley in his first over with a superb delivery and later removing Ben Duckett and Joe Root - the latter for the 10th time in Test cricket.
In contrast, Siraj, Shardul and Prasidh struggled throughout, going wicketless and conceding a combined 154 runs, failing to maintain consistent pressure despite India's imposing first-innings score.
Pant's 'falling sweep'
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar was left impressed on Saturday by Rishabh Pant's brilliant century in the first innings of the Headingley Test against England.
Tendulkar praised Pant's fearless and unconventional shot-making, highlighting his unique 'falling sweep' technique, which the wicketkeeper-batter executed multiple times during his innings.
Pant, known for his audacious style, scored a commanding 134 runs off 178 balls, including 12 boundaries and six sixes.
One of the standout strokes in his innings was his trademark falling paddle sweep — a shot that often sees him lose balance and end up on the ground.
Tendulkar clarified that this is far from accidental. Sharing his insights on X formerly Twitter, he explained that Pant deliberately goes down with the shot to get under the ball and scoop it over leg slip with control, turning what appears awkward into a smart and effective tactic.
"Rishabh's falling paddle sweep is not accidental. It is intentional and extremely clever. Going down with the shot allows him to get under the ball and scoop it over leg slip with control," Tendulkar wrote.
The former India captain also praised Pant and Shubman Gill for their clever on-field tactics while facing young England spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Tendulkar noted that the pair deliberately spoke loudly in Hindi between deliveries — a subtle ploy to unsettle Bashir, who understands the language.
"I also noticed something interesting during Bashir's spell. Shubman and Rishabh were speaking loudly in Hindi between deliveries. It was not just casual talk.
"They were playing mind games with the bowler, trying to disrupt his rhythm. These minor details may not appear on the scoreboard, but they can have a significant impact on the game," Tendulkar concluded.
Meanwhile, Pant has added another feather to his cap by becoming the Indian player with the most sixes in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).