• Source:JND
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Jasprit Bumrah's Workload Management: Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has sparked a fresh argument on player commitment, criticising pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for selectively playing matches under the guise of workload management during the five-match Test series against England.

Despite being India's go-to pacer across formats, Bumrah's match selection has put the limelight on the Indian pacer's workload management strategy following his return from injury and a packed Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule.

In the three matches that he played, Bumrah bagged 14 wickets and he was rested for the series-deciding final match when Shubman Gill-led India were trailing 1-2.

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But the visitors, riding on the brilliance of Mohammed Siraj, managed to level the series with an Oval Test victory, fueling questions about Bumrah's workload.

"If there is an injury issue, then the Board and the player has to decide. However, I feel once you are in the team, you can’t pick and choose your matches. There is workload, but at this level, you have to manage it. You are playing for the country," Azharuddin was quoted as saying by Mid-Day.

During the Oval Test, India did not feel Bumrah's void as Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep stepped up to guide the team to victory.

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Azharuddin questioned what would happen if India needed their ace pacer in a crunch situation, as the visitors were playing in the do-or-die Test.

“You are playing for the country. It was a different story that Siraj, along with Prasidh [Krishna] and Akash Deep, rose to the occasion and we were fortunate that we could win without Bumrah, but what happens if India needs Bumrah badly in a particular situation?" Azharuddin questioned.