"We haven't really made use of sports science and technology" - Indian legend on Jasprit Bumrah's workload ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 Test series
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called for the use of sports sciences and technology to understand the optimum workload for Jasprit Bumrah. The 39-year-old revealed that it was subjective to speak about how many Test matches Bumrah would play in the upcoming five-Test series against England.
Ashwin felt that India needed to use the resources available and find out how the player was feeling before determining how Bumrah's workload could be managed.
"We haven't really made use of sports science and technology when it comes to Bumrah. At the moment, it is all very subjective. In Australia also, it wasn't until Melbourne that Jassi said he was tired and his body wasn't giving more. Thereafter, he broke down in Sydney. There are some real lessons here. And that's what will define how you use him in England."
"See, it is subjective to say he will play three Tests or four Tests. Why not two, and why not four? Now, we can measure everything, and then when you add to it how the player is feeling, you can come to a near-perfect assessment of where you stand with Jassi," Ashwin told RevSportz.
While announcing India's 18-man squad for the England tour, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that Bumrah would not play all five matches in the series. The fast bowler was one of the candidates to take over as India's new Test match captain, following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the longest format.
However, considering his fitness issues, he was overlooked and India went with Shubman Gill to take over reins in Test cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin believes India could have won Sydney Test had Jasprit Bumrah been available
In their opening Test match of 2025, India did not have the services of Jasprit Bumrah in their defense of 161 runs in the second innings against Australia at Sydney. Ravichandran Ashwin felt that India could have won that Test match had the pacer been available to bowl.
"The truth is you should not base things on subjective assessment. Suppose he doesn’t feel anything at the end of two Tests, would you still rest him? If he does feel something at the end of the Leeds Test, would you still want to play him at Edgbaston?
“These are critical calls for India, and could go on to define the series. Had Jassi been there in Sydney, India could have won that match. So how you manage him will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the contest," Ashwin told the aforementioned source.
India's tour to England commences on Friday, June 20, with the first Test scheduled to take place at Leeds.