'Die for India': Jasprit Bumrah blasted for 'nonsense' workload management by Ex-BCCI selector

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Sandeep Patil has bashed the India National Cricket Team pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his decision to pick and choose international matches.

Sandeep Patil dismissed Jasprit Bumrah's workload management as 'nonsense' and sent him a strong message, stating that a player should be ready to die for his country.

Jasprit Bumrah is facing heavy criticism

Bumrah, being a match-winner, an absolute champion bowler, and a game-changer, is a fact of life. He gives everything on the field, and every time his team needs a wicket, the captain turns to Bumrah, with the pace spearhead most of the time getting the job done.

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Jasprit Bumrah has worked really hard on his body and maintains good fitness, which is why he has been able to make stunning comebacks after multiple surgeries.

However, as he ages, the importance of managing his workload increases because he is a special player. Looking at this, the medical team had advised Bumrah to play only three out of five matches in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

Jasprit Bumrah communicated this to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and received approval to play three matches to avoid any injuries.

He played the first Test at Headingley in Leeds, the third Test at Lord's in London, and the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, bowling 119.4 overs and picking 14 wickets.

The 31-year-old didn't feature in the fifth Test at the Kennington Oval in London despite the series being on the line and received heavy criticism for it. Although India won that match, many experts raised questions over Bumrah's commitment.

I wonder how the BCCI is agreeing to all this - Sandeep Patil

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Sandeep Patil has become the latest person to slam Jasprit Bumrah, and he questioned how the board gave him permission.

"I wonder how the BCCI is agreeing to all this. Is the physio more important than the captain, than the head coach? What about selectors? Are we to expect that the physio will be sitting in selection committee meetings now? Will he decide?" Patil told Mid-day.

"When you are picked for your country, you die for your country. You are a warrior. I have seen Sunil Gavaskar bat on all five days of a match, I’ve seen Kapil Dev bowl on most days of a Test match, and even bowl to us in the nets. They never asked for breaks, never complained, and their careers extended to 16-plus years. I didn’t miss the next Test after my head injury in Australia in 1981."

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Workload management is nonsense - Sandeep Patil

While labelling workload management as nonsense, Sandeep Patil said that a player is either fit or unfit, and during his time as BCCI chief selector, they didn't entertain the workload business.

"Workload management is nonsense. You are either fit or unfit, and that’s how we [his selection committee] picked teams. We did not entertain this workload business. Modern-day players have all the facilities. We did not have such rehab programmes in our playing days. At times, we carried on playing despite injuries. Let’s just say we were happy playing for the country… no naatak."