Photo Credit: Facebook Photo of Jasprit Bumrah
Shane Bond, the former New Zealand pacer and ex-Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach, has raised significant concerns about the workload management of India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, particularly in light of his recurring back issues. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Bond warned that another injury in the same spot where Bumrah underwent surgery could potentially end his career, emphasizing the importance of careful management.
Bumrah, who has been sidelined with a lower back injury, hasn’t played competitive cricket since January 2024, following his breakdown in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Despite his heroic contribution in the series, where he took 32 wickets in five matches, a stress-related injury forced him to withdraw from the final Test at Sydney. As a result, Bumrah also missed India’s ICC Champions Trophy-winning campaign. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and his availability for the upcoming IPL, which starts on March 22, remains uncertain.
Bond, who is now the bowling coach for Rajasthan Royals and has dealt with back injuries throughout his own career, stressed that Bumrah’s workload needs careful attention. Bond himself faced similar challenges, with his career significantly impacted by back problems.
He played only 120 matches for New Zealand and underwent his first back surgery at the age of 29. Despite his persistent injuries, he continued playing until the age of 34, retiring from Tests first, followed by a retirement from all formats less than six months later. Reflecting on his own career, Bond explained, “It is going to take some good management and just some open conversations with the player and say, look, we are doing this with your best interest in your career.”
Bond further elaborated on Bumrah’s situation, highlighting the potential dangers of the quick transition from T20 cricket to Test cricket. “Anywhere you transition from, particularly T20 to a Test match, it is challenging,” Bond said, emphasizing the stark contrast in the demands of the two formats. In the IPL, Bumrah may bowl fewer overs per match and experience significant travel and minimal practice. In contrast, Test matches require longer, more taxing spells of bowling, which can strain a bowler’s body. “That’s sort of half of a Test match load or even under a half of, which then is a big jump and you are not bowling back-to-back days. That is a big jump when you transition out of that,” Bond explained.
Looking ahead to India’s tour to England, which will feature five Test matches between June 28 and August 3, Bond expressed concern about Bumrah’s workload. He specifically noted that Bumrah should not be overused, recalling the demanding workload he had during India’s tour of Australia, where he bowled a total of 151.2 overs, including 52 in the fourth Test at Melbourne. “He is too valuable for the next World Cup and stuff. So you would be looking at five Tests in England, I would not want to be playing him in any more than two in a row,” Bond advised, adding that the transition from IPL to Test cricket poses a significant risk. “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.”
“They may say, look, it is four Test matches in total. Or three. If we can get him through the English summer and he is fit, we can probably then go with some confidence that we can carry him across the rest of the formats. So that is 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 am not sure you can have surgery on that spot again.”
With the Indian domestic season over, the IPL is Bumrah’s only opportunity for competitive cricket before the England tour. Bond believes that Bumrah’s participation in the IPL is uncertain, calling it “maybe touch and go” and acknowledging the risks involved. “There will be an element of risk depending on the intensity that he is bowling at by the time he gets back,” Bond noted, cautioning against overloading the bowler.
Bond also underlined the importance of strategic management to ensure Bumrah’s long-term fitness. “Looking at the tours and the schedule going forward, where are the opportunities to give him a break, but really where are the danger periods? And often it is that the [transition from] IPL to the Test championship will be a risk,” Bond explained.
He also stressed that Bumrah’s future in international cricket depends on collaborating with the decision-makers in Indian cricket to chart a path that prioritizes his longevity. “Any player who has gone through that, and having myself [gone through it], you are desperate to play, but you also understand there are some risks at certain times and you have to make some compromises,” Bond concluded.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
