"Stupid word workload..." - Sunil Gavaskar's fiery remark on Jasprit Bumrah reportedly resting in Rajkot Test

India National Cricket Team batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has shared his views on the reports of Jasprit Bumrah resting in the third Test match of the five-match series against England National Cricket Team.

The 5-match series between the India National Cricket Team and England National Cricket Team is currently leveled at 1-1 as the Ben Stokes-led side won the first Test and the hosts secured a dominant victory in the series.

The third Test will be hosted by the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from February 15 to 19. India will be fielding an inexperienced batting line-up in the game as Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer will be missing the game due to different reasons.

Kohli has pulled out of the entire five-match series while Shreyas Iyer has been dropped following a string of low scores in the purest format of the game. KL Rahul, meanwhile, is currently recovering from the injury he suffered in the first Test. Although India will be light on batting, they have a strong bowling line-up to support their cause.

The top performer for India in the bowling department in the ongoing series has been the premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah and he is also the leading wicket-taker in the series. Bumrah has managed to bag 15 wickets in 4 innings at an average of 10.66 and the best bowling figures of 6/45, which came in the Vizag Test match. He was breathing fire in the second Test and his 9 wickets helped him win the Player of the Match award.

There have been reports circulating in the media of India possibly giving rest to Bumrah to manage his workload. However, the India batting great Sunil Gavaskar is completely against the idea of a rest.

Nobody in their right mind would suggest that Jasprit Bumrah has been over-bowled – Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar has stated that Bumrah has only bowled 58 overs in the series and to give him a break in the name of workload management makes no sense.

“So, to use that stupid word workload makes zero sense, especially when you see that in the two Test matches that have been played so far, Bumrah has bowled one delivery less than 58 overs. That translates to an average of around 15 overs per innings so far. Now, nobody in their right mind would suggest that he has been over-bowled,” wrote Gavaskar in his column for Sportstar.

“There were reports in some outlets that Jasprit Bumrah would be rested because of the so-called workload management. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened and Bumrah continues to be the vice-captain of the team. The series is still level, and there’s the psychological advantage that Bumrah holds on the English batters with his destructive bowling,” added Gavaskar.

Sunil Gavaskar also highlighted that India got a 9-day gap after the second Test and the first two matches finished inside four days providing an extra break to the players. He added that the likes of Jasprit Bumrah should be prepared to work extra for the country and representing India shouldn’t be taken for granted.

“Bumrah is playing for his country’s cricket team, and he as well as the others should be prepared to do the extra work that may be asked of them. The privilege of playing for the country, especially the highest form of the game, Test match cricket, should never be taken for granted by anybody, however big he may be,” he added.