'Handling him will be crucial' - Bharat Arun states on how to manage Jasprit Bumrah ahead of ENG vs IND series

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has shed light on the importance of managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload, especially ahead of the five-match Test series against England. With speculation rising over Bumrah's availability for the entire series, Arun emphasized that striking the right balance will be key. This isn’t the first time Bumrah’s workload has sparked debate before a big tour. Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has already mentioned that Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests, although a final decision on which matches he will feature in hasn’t been made yet.

Speaking to RevSportz, Arun explained that both overuse and underuse of a fast bowler could result in injuries. "Too much bowling and too little bowling both cause injuries. They are the perfect recipe for a bowler to get injured," Arun pointed out. He added that while the team cannot control the number of overs Bumrah bowls in a match, they can regulate his training workload based on match performance. “According to the number of overs bowled, the practice sessions can be trimmed down for him... It can be a strengthening session in the gym or some recovery work with physios,” he said.

Arun also addressed the speculation about whether Bumrah could play all five Tests. While he didn’t rule out the possibility, he stressed that it would depend on the support from the rest of the bowling attack. If Bumrah is forced to carry the main burden, he may not be able to feature in every game. Arun remarked that managing Bumrah’s workload based on the flow of the series rather than pre-deciding breaks will be the best approach.

Arshdeep Singh Backed as Third Pacer

In addition to discussing Bumrah, Arun also shared his thoughts on India’s pace combination. He strongly backed Arshdeep Singh as the third-choice seamer behind Mohammed Siraj and Bumrah. “I will definitely go with Arshdeep because he is a left-armer, and not many players even get to prepare against left-armers in the nets. If there's a skillful left-armer, he becomes all the more potent,” Arun explained.

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He further added that the choice between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur would depend on their form and performance closer to the match. “Both can bowl 130-plus. Shardul can bat too. Who is bowling and batting well at that time becomes important,” Arun concluded.