Jasprit Bumrah / BCCI will take a big decision on Bumrah, will have to disclose before the Test series!

Jasprit Bumrah: The issue of fitness and workload management of Indian cricket team's star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was in the news recently on the England tour. Bumrah was not part of the Indian playing XI in the last match of the five-Test series played at the Oval Stadium. The reason for this was his workload management, regarding which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now preparing to implement a strict and clear policy. According to a recent report by the Times of India, the BCCI will now select Bumrah for the Test series only if he is available for the entire series.

Bumrah's workload management becomes an issue on England tour

Even before the five-Test series against England, the BCCI had made it clear that Jasprit Bumrah would play only three Tests in this series. However, it was not clear which three Tests they would be. The result was that Bumrah took part in the Manchester Test, but he was rested in the Oval Test. This decision also came into the discussion because the Oval pitch was very favorable for fast bowlers. Bumrah's absence not only affected the team combination but also raised questions for the selection committee.

Citing BCCI sources, Times of India reported that Bumrah's workload management has now become a big challenge for the board. Due to the uncertainty of whether Bumrah will play or not, it is becoming difficult to formulate a strategy for the Test series. This situation has forced BCCI to review its current policy.

BCCI's new policy: Full series or no series

According to the report, BCCI is now planning to adopt a strict policy. Under this, Jasprit Bumrah will be selected only in the Test series in which he is available for all the matches. The responsibility of implementing this policy will be on the BCCI's medical team and strength-conditioning (S&C) coaching staff.

Role of the medical team: Before each Test series, the medical team will have to do a complete assessment of Bumrah's fitness and clarify his availability status.

Responsibility of S&C team: Based on the fitness report, the S&C coach will decide the limit of Bumrah's workload, so that his risk of injury can be reduced.

The aim of this policy is not only to ensure Bumrah's long-term fitness, but also to bring transparency and stability in team selection.

Release in Oval Test, rest in next series?

As soon as the Oval Test started, BCCI released Jasprit Bumrah from the Indian squad. This move made it clear that the board does not want to take any risk regarding his workload. At present, the Indian team does not have to play any Test series before October-November. India's next Test assignment will be against West Indies on home soil, in which two Test matches will be played. It is likely that Bumrah can be given complete rest in this series, so that he is fully prepared for the upcoming big series.

Why is Bumrah's workload management important?

Jasprit Bumrah is not only India's most lethal fast bowler, but he also rules in world cricket. His speed, accuracy and yorkers have led India to victory in difficult situations many times. However, his fitness history has been full of injuries. Since the stress fracture in 2019, the BCCI has been taking extra care of his fitness. This is why workload management has become an important part of his career.

Future challenges and expectations

The new policy of BCCI looks solid on paper, but it will not be easy to implement. The absence of a star player like Bumrah can affect the team's performance every time. Also, the pressure will increase on the medical and S&C team to make accurate assessments. On the other hand, if this policy is successful, it will not only prolong Bumrah's career but will also strengthen the Indian fast bowling attack.