Former New Zealand pacer and Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Shane Bond has issued a warning to the Indian team management regarding star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. Bond advised Team India to manage Bumrah’s workload carefully, suggesting he shouldn’t play more than two consecutive Tests to stay fit for the next World Cup.
Notably, Bumrah has been out of any cricketing action since the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Sydney earlier this year. He is currently unavailable for selection after his back injury resurfaced during the IND vs AUS Test series.
This marks the first instance of Bumrah suffering a back injury since undergoing surgery in March 2023. Bond, who previously worked closely with Bumrah during his stint as Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach and is currently serving in the same role for Rajasthan Royals, emphasised the need for cautious workload management to prevent a potential recurrence.
Bumrah Is Too Valuable For Next World Cup: Shane Bond
Bond has cautioned India against overburdening Bumrah during the upcoming five-Test series against England, highlighting the tight schedule from June 28 to August 3. He stressed that Bumrah’s heavy workload during the Australia tour, including 151.2 overs across nine innings, shouldn’t be repeated, as another injury in the same area could be career-threatening.
“He’s too valuable for the next World Cup and stuff. So you’d be looking at five Tests in England, I wouldn’t want to be playing him in any more than two in a row. Coming out of the back end of the IPL into a Test match is going to be a huge risk. And so how do they manage that is going to be key. Looking at five Tests in England, I wouldn’t want to be playing him in any more than two in a row. Coming out of the back end of the IPL into a Test match is going to be a huge risk,” Bond told ESPNcricinfo.
“If we can get him through the English summer and he’s fit, we can probably then go with some confidence that we can carry him across the rest of the formats. So that’s hard because he is your best bowler, but if he has another injury in the same spot, that could be a career-ender, potentially, because I’m not sure you can have surgery on that spot again,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up 32 wickets in the five-match Test series against Australia, but his efforts went in vain as India lost four of the five games and conceded the trophy to the Aussies. Owing to his injury, Bumrah is set to miss the initial weeks of IPL 2025, leaving Mumbai Indians without their premier pacer during a crucial phase.
