- August 12, 2025
If there’s one thing cricket fans love more than a good cover drive, it’s a good debate. And right now, nothing’s sparking more conversation than Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 gave us a gripping 2-2 finish, Shubman Gill got his flowers for leading a young side with flair, and The Oval saw a nail-biter decided by just six runs. Now, some say it’s smart management. Others think it’s soft. So, let’s dive into five strong opinions from cricket’s big voices — including a few that might ruffle some feathers.
David Gower
David Gower has no qualms either: you can’t bowl Bumrah’s action for 40 overs in a week and not expect to pay the consequences. Gower said he was torn between admiration and concern. After all, Bumrah is now 31 years old and will most likely have to be nurtured for him to bowl to his full capacity. Of course, the fans will want him to play every game, but no one wants to see “60-70% Bumrah”, merely on reputation. Gower wisely suggested taking Bumrah out of the firing line; he should think about the long game, not merely the series.
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra is baffled by the trolling. For him, Bumrah isn’t just good — he’s a generational talent, the best bowler across formats right now. Missing two Tests? Not a problem if it keeps him fresh for the big moments.
Chopra reminds us that Bumrah has already proved he can lead from the front (remember Perth?) and doesn’t need to play all five Tests to justify his worth. If workload management is the ticket to seeing “Boom Boom” at his destructive best, Chopra’s happy to punch it.
Sandeep Patil
Sandeep Patil, a former India cricketer and chief selector, enters the fray with the most powerful take of all. There are no shades of grey, no long-winded scientific explanations. Patil also wonders why physiotherapists seem to have more clout than either a coach or selector, and he simply does not accept the modern way!
Patil’s stance reflects an old-school mindset — the era when missing games for anything short of a serious injury was unthinkable. While his view might clash with today’s sports science, it’s a reminder of how much the game (and its player management strategies) has evolved.
Raju Kulkarni
Raju Kulkarni shares one of the most vibrant metaphors in the roundtable discussion. He sees Bumrah as an AK-47 — powerful, accurate, and best used in crunch situations. The idea is not to fire every round in the magazine, but to save ammunition for when the pressure is on. Kulkarni thinks that limited, selective use also raises the profiling of the whole fast-bowling unit.
Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane pulls back the curtain on what goes on inside the dressing room. What impressed him the most was not Bumrah’s bowling; it was his transparency before the series, telling the captain exactly which matches he would play. Rahane said that the level of transparency is rare and invaluable. Allowing the team to prepare as a whole unit and not leave anyone guessing right up until the first ball. It takes high character to put the needs of your teammates in front of personal success in the lead-up to a major series.
Rahane also floated an interesting idea: if India wants Bumrah in all five Tests, they could tweak his usage — think short, sharp bursts instead of long spells. That way, the Ferrari doesn’t burn out before the finish line.
