“Complex Issue Around Jasprit Bumrah”: India Assistant Coach Opens Up on Pacer’s Workload

August 1, 2025 — Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the playing XI in the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval has reignited debates over his workload management — an issue that has become a recurring concern for Indian cricket in recent years.

The star pacer, who played only three of the five Tests in the ongoing series (1st, 3rd, and 4th), was deliberately rested for the second and fifth matches, a move that raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike. With India already having sealed the series 3-1 before the final Test, the team management’s decision has once again underlined the delicate balance between player availability and injury prevention.

Assistant Coach Speaks Out

At the end of Day 1 at The Oval, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the elephant in the room.

“It’s quite a complex issue around Bumrah,” he said. “We obviously want to wheel him in, but we also want to respect where his body’s at, and on the basis of that, we just felt that it wasn’t worth including him in the squad.”

Doeschate was quick to refute any notions of Bumrah picking and choosing matches.

“I don’t think ‘picking and choosing’ is a fair comment to Bumrah. He did say he was going to play three games, he left it up to us which three he played. We’ve tried to manage the situation. It’s not ideal.”

Context: A Lesson from the Past

India’s selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, had indicated before the series that Bumrah would not play all five Tests — a decision shaped by painful lessons from the past. Bumrah had played every match in the grueling 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, only to suffer an injury that sidelined him for more than three months afterward.

That experience has since served as a cautionary tale for the team’s think tank, prompting a more cautious approach during the England series.

The Overs Tell a Different Story

Doeschate also clarified that while Bumrah played only three Tests, his workload within those matches was significant.

“He has bowled a large number of overs. I know it doesn’t always seem like that because he’s only played three Tests and only bowled in one innings in Manchester. But if you look at the loads, he’s bowled a lot,” he explained.

Indeed, Bumrah’s high-intensity spells — often in challenging conditions — take a toll on the body in ways not always visible through simple match appearances.

Balancing Present and Future

While fans may feel shortchanged not seeing Bumrah take the field in key matches, the management insists the decisions are made with both short-term and long-term objectives in mind.

“In hindsight, you would have loved to have him here. But you would also have said if we came here 3-1 down that we didn’t use him there. So it’s trying to not guess, but trying to look into the future and manage him,” said Doeschate.

He also acknowledged the challenge of managing a large squad, especially when some players, like Bumrah, are given selective roles.

“Giving those guys attention — the guys who aren’t playing — particularly when you’re carrying 18 [players] is important. Make them know that you’re making all the decisions in good faith, in the best interest of the team.”

Bumrah’s Role Going Forward

With India set to embark on a packed calendar ahead — including the Champions Trophy next year and preparations for the next World Test Championship cycle — Bumrah’s health remains a top priority.

His ability to turn games singlehandedly makes him a prized asset, but also a fragile one. Managing that duality is India’s biggest challenge — a “complex issue,” as Doeschate put it, with no perfect answers, only calculated decisions.