In a shocking data-cum-biomechanical revelation, India’s 1983 World Cup-winning seamer Balvinder Singh Sandhu has slammed all critics of Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management following his limited role in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. Sandhu, who has worked with Bumrah for years before he broke into the national side, questioned why fans and experts did not lambast star batters who have opted for breaks during the cricketing calendar over the last seven years, wherein the team’s star speedster only had an average of three days per fixture.
“In these seven years, how many batsmen have gone without injury breaks? How many have opted out of a series quietly? Nobody really questions them. But when it comes to a fast bowler, everyone seems ready to pounce. The truth is — fast bowling is brutal,” wrote Sandhu in a column for Mid-Day.
Raising a point with numbers on India’s star pacers of the decade – Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj – Sandhu noted how injuries have affected the senior duo often due to a lack of adequate breaks to recharge their batteries.
“I was stunned when I saw these numbers. Jasprit Bumrah has had an average rest of just 3.2 days for every playing day across the last seven years, while Mohammed Siraj has had 3.5 days, and Mohammed Shami, 3.7. And remember — both Bumrah and Shami have also missed matches because of injuries. That only makes these statistics even more telling,” remarked Sandhu.
The Bumrah bio-mechanical breakdown
Sandhu admitted that he did not foresee a long career for the Gujarat pacer in the international circuit when the duo worked together at the NCA.
“It’s easy to criticise these pacers who have carried the load for India over the years, but when you see the actual numbers, one realises how punishing the life of a fast bowler is. These numbers reveal how much strain their bodies have endured.
𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞: 𝐁𝐮𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐡’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 🎯
For the 10th time in Test Cricket, #JaspritBumrah has dismissed #JoeRoot! 🥶#ENGvIND 1st Test, Day 2 | Streaming LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/PLSZ49Mrj4 pic.twitter.com/OPT1zt9QIk
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 21, 2025
“I worked with Bumrah at the National Cricket Academy, before he even broke into the Indian team. When I studied his bowling action and biomechanics on video back then, to be honest, I didn’t think he’d last this long — given his strenuous action and the workload demands of a fast bowler. But what stood out was his attitude, discipline, and dedication. He kept working tirelessly, not just on his skills, but more importantly on his fitness — building the strength needed to handle the load his unique action puts on the body,” the 69-year-old added.
Sandhu further delved into the bio-mechanics of Bumrah, iterating that his bowling quirks needed to be different as opposed to any other fast bowler from the past.
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‘Enjoy the skils and moments’
“Someone like Bumrah generates pace, not from a long run-up, but from sheer strength. And when you rely on strength, your muscles are bound to suffer wear and tear. Compare Bumrah to legends like Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee, or Malcolm Marshall. They all had smoother biomechanics and long careers, but even they weren’t spared from injuries.”
“Compare Bumrah to legends like Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee, or Malcolm Marshall. They all had smoother biomechanics and long careers, but even they weren’t spared from injuries. Research has shown that about 40 per cent of a pacer’s speed comes from the momentum of the run-up. Bumrah, with his slow run-up, puts extra load on his body to generate that pace.
“So, instead of hammering these bowlers for “choosing matches” let’s enjoy watching them perform whenever they can. Enjoy the skills, the execution, the moments they create,” wrote Sandhu.
Bumrah is nevetheless slated to return to action for India in September after being named in the Asia Cup squad. This will mark the pacer’s first set of T20I matches since winning the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados on June 29, 2024.
