Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed India head coach, has emphasized the significance of workload management for premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, describing him as a “rare bowler.” During his inaugural press conference, Gambhir stressed the importance of preserving Bumrah’s longevity and ensuring his availability for crucial matches.
Bumrah’s injury history has been a concern for the Indian team, with the 30-year-old spending extended periods on the sidelines. In 2022, he missed the T20 World Cup due to a back injury and underwent surgery in March 2023, keeping him out for four months.
Gambhir acknowledged Bumrah’s exceptional talent and the need to manage his workload effectively. “He is one rare bowler that anyone would want,” Gambhir said. “You want him to play important games. That’s why workload management for not just him but fast bowlers is important.”
While emphasizing the importance of workload management for fast bowlers, Gambhir also expressed his expectation that batters should be available for all formats of the game. “If you are a batter, who’s batting well, you might as well just play all formats,” he said. “Rohit and Virat have retired from T20Is now, so they will play two formats from now. Hopefully, they are available for most of the games.”
Gambhir’s comments highlight the delicate balance between preserving the health of fast bowlers and ensuring the availability of key players for all formats of the game. As India prepares for a busy schedule in the coming months, including the ODI World Cup in 2023, effective workload management will be crucial to the team’s success.
