'If There’s Reverse Swing...': Shubman Gill's Message To Jasprit Bumrah And Other Pacers Amid Workload Debate

India vs South Africa 1st Test: Shubman Gill has once again come up with his take on the workload management debate of Jasprit Bumrah and other fast bowlers ahead of the first Test between India and South Africa, which kicks off on Friday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Bumrah has been at the centre of criticism ever since he played three out of five Test matches during the all-important Test. He missed the decisive fifth Test at the Oval, which India won to draw the series 2-2. Gill said that the fast bowlers already know where they are needed more, and when playing at home, it won’t be as demanding as compared to overseas conditions.

Having played the Asia Cup 2025, the two Tests against the West Indies and the T20I series in Australia, Bumrah is unlikely to be rested during the two-match Test series against the Proteas. The two-match series will be India's third assignment in the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle.

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When asked how the narrative around Bumrah’s workload has shifted, Gill replied, "When you play in places like England or Australia, the workload for fast bowlers is usually higher than it is in India. But our pacers have also learned to recognise the kind of spells they need to bowl here."

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"For example, if there’s reverse swing on offer, they’ll go full throttle for that phase. Bumrah also understands that the workload in Indian conditions isn’t as demanding, and he manages it accordingly," he added.

Bumrah has been a remarkably consistent performer for India over the past few years across formats. He has 226 wickets to his name in 50 career matches at an average of 19.84.

The 26-year-old Indian skipper Gill was all praise for the reigning ICC World Test champions South Africa ahead of the series, pointing out their impressive performance on the recent tour of Pakistan, where they drew a two-match series 1-1.

"These two Test matches are very important (for India). To play the WTC final, we need to do well here. South Africa is a strong side – they’ve won the WTC – so it won’t be easy. We know there will be difficult moments, but as a team, we’ve shown that we can handle those situations well," Gill said.