'Prepare him for surgical strikes... ' - Former India coach's intriguing advice for Jasprit Bumrah during ENG vs IND 2025 series

Former India strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai has given his take on managing ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s workload amid the ongoing Test series against England. With Bumrah set to feature in only three of the five matches, his rotation has sparked criticism from some experts. However, Desai defended the decision, stating that the injury-prone fast bowler must be used wisely and strategically to maximize his impact.

“Bumrah is an asset and needs to be handled smartly. A small team needs to handle him, prepare him for surgical strikes a few times a year, and be smart around him at other times. I have been with him since 2014, when he was on RTP from his ACL injury, from his Gujarat Ranji Trophy days,” Desai said in an interview with The Indian Express ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester.

He further added, “He is special, a gifted guy who has worked immensely to become one of a kind. To manage guys like him, we need a cohesive, collective, and collaborative approach with a long-term vision driving the decisions and, ideally, with great consistency in personnel around him.”

Siraj's Rebound After Champions Trophy Omission

Soham Desai also spoke about managing players who are dropped, citing the example of Mohammed Siraj. The pacer was left out of India’s victorious 2025 Champions Trophy squad earlier this year, which left him demoralized. Desai revealed that the bond formed over years helped keep Siraj motivated and physically prepared for upcoming opportunities.

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“Whether they are prepping for an ongoing series or they are in the loop to be featured in the upcoming one, they need to be on a plan to be fully ready. This happens round the year. Siraj had a tough start to the year. He was devastated and unmotivated. In these moments, the relationship built over the years comes into play,” he explained. Siraj has responded superbly in the England series, emerging as the leading wicket-taker so far with 13 wickets.