The debate around workload management and his selective representation on the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy tour to India has blighted Jasprit Bumrah’s contributions over the past few months. Returning for his first major Test series since suffering a grave injury setback during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team management had stated that Bumrah would only feature in three of the five matches on tour, irrespective of the results and the series scoreline.
Even before India dramatically levelled the series 2-2 on the fifth day of the Oval Test in early August, pace spearhead Bumrah was released from the squad after fulfilling his quota of three matches, picking up 14 wickets, including two five-fors. While Bumrah has contended with his injury concerns and a quirky bowling action for a major part of this decade, the Gujarat pacer’s association with problems arising from his unique action dates a long way back. Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun recently revealed how it was almost a ‘milkshake vs bowling action’ conundrum for Bumrah to improve his pace, back in 2013, three years before he broke into the Indian team.
‘Love for burgers, pizzas and milkshakes’
“In 2013, Bumrah had come to the NCA for an Under-19 camp and pitched for selection. He couldn’t make the team, but he was in the 30-member camp at the National Cricket Academy,” Arun said on an episode of Bombay Sport Exchange.
Arun revealed that the NCA coaches had attempted to remodel Bumrah’s action to improve his pace and though the resultant action was great, he could not generate adequate pace.
“In all fairness, we also tried to change Bumrah’s action. He was remodeled, but then the action was great, the ball was not going quick. What’s the point in having a great action if the balls aren’t effective?,” Arun said.
“He could bowl quick, and so we discussed with the physio and the strength and conditioning coach. We said, I wouldn’t want to touch his action because it’s very unique and generates a lot of pace. But it also puts him under stress.”
Arun said that the onus was on Bumrah to forsake his love for junk-food and transform his body to generate power and the speedster responded in a jiffy.
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“We called him and told him: to take the impact of fast bowling, you need to be like a bull. That comes down to diet, exercise, and sacrifices. In all fairness, Bumrah instantaneously changed. He started eating healthy, he was working in the gym. Like Virat Kohli, he was extremely dedicated. He loved burgers, pizzas, milkshakes. He gave up everything overnight. A Punjabi boy living in Gujarat—but his love for bowling was greater than any food craving,” Arun remarked.
Agarkar defends Bumrah’s workload management
Bumrah will return to T20I cricket for the first time in over a year since the World Cup win in Barbados after he was named in India’s 15-man squad for the Asia Cup earlier this week. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar reiterated Bumrah’s invaluable presence, defending his workload situation.
“Clearly, we want him available for all the big games,” Agarkar said. “Most fast bowlers are monitored, but with him there’s extra attention because of how unique and special he is,” Agarkar told reporters in Mumbai.
Career record
In only nine years into his international career, Bumrah has already stamped his legacy as arguably the greatest pacer to represent India. Bumrah is already the ninth-highest wicket-taker among Indian bowlers across formats, recording 457 scalps from 207 matches at a 20.63 average and 33.77 strike rate, leading both metrics among bowlers who have acquired as many wickets as him.
