Dale Steyn believes that the Indian team is handling Jasprit Bumrah’s workload effectively, considering the substantial amount of cricket they are involved in. Bumrah has been exceptional in the ongoing India-England five-Test series, topping the charts with 17 wickets.
Despite India leading the series 2-1, the star paceman has been rested for the crucial fourth Test in Ranchi as a part of workload management. In a conversation with TOI, Steyn was questioned about India handling Bumrah’s workload, to which he responded:
“I don’t know how his workload is going right now. I suppose being an Indian player there is going to be a lot of workload. There is a lot of cricket in India these days. The Indian team is playing a lot of cricket and people want to play against them.”
“They are traveling most of the time. So, there is a huge percentage of the bowlers who will be bowling a lot of overs. Bumrah could be one of those guys. But he is being managed quite well.”
Steyn also commended Bumrah, stating that the management effectively handled his workload through clear communication.
“There is a great crop of fast bowlers India currently has in Shami, Siraj, and Bumrah. There is a heap of fast bowlers coming through. I think they manage them well.”
“There is good communication with Bumrah himself about what he wants to do, when he wants to play and when he takes time off. It seems like India really doesn’t miss him because the stepped-in bowlers are up to the standards. It is a very good thing about Indian fast bowling,” Steyn added
Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj, Bumrah’s pace-bowling companion, took a rest during the second Test and made a strong comeback in the third, securing a four-wicket haul in the first innings.
India has included Bengal pacer Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar in the squad for the forthcoming fourth Test in Ranchi, scheduled to commence on February 23.
“Over the recent years, the depth of fast-bowling talent in India has significantly increased”- Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn praised the evolution in the Indian fast-bowling department, allowing the team to give rest to a player like Jasprit Bumrah.
Besides Bumrah, India has also benefited from the impressive performances of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in recent years. This trio played a crucial role in India’s successful campaign at the 2023 ODI World Cup until their defeat against Australia in the final.
“If you go in the past and talk about Indian cricket, you think of spinners,” Steyn said. “You think of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. You think of spinners. Other than Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan. There are other bunch obviously but you really think of spinners.”
“In the past few years, Indian fast-bowling stocks have gone up hugely. I don’t think we should be worrying too much about Bumrah because he is managing himself quite well.”
In the current England series, Jasprit Bumrah achieved the milestone of being the quickest Indian and second-fastest Asian fast bowler to reach 150 Test wickets.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami emerged as the top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, securing 24 dismissals in just seven matches, which included three instances of taking five wickets in an innings.
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