Since the end of the recently concluded five-match Test series between England and India, the tourists’ premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, has been criticized for not playing the fifth and final game at the Kennington Oval in South London. One of the reasons for that decision was that Ahmedabad-born played the fourth Test in Manchester while the BCCI wanted to keep him fresh and fit for the Asia Cup 2025. 

The former World Cup-winning member of India, Balwinder Sandhu, has decoded how the right-arm pacer has been continuously bowling across formats. The Gujarat pacer has an average rest day of 3.2 in 42 Test matches he has played, which is the lowest in comparison to 3.5 and 3.7 of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.

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“If you compare Bumrah to legends like Kapil, Akram, Hadlee, or Marshall, they all had smoother biomechanics and long careers, but even they weren’t spared from injuries. Research has shown that about 40% of a pacer’s speed comes from the momentum of the run-up. Bumrah, with his slow run-up, puts extra load on his body to generate that pace.” Sandhu wrote in his column.

Balwinder Sandhu compares Jasprit Bumrah and other legendary pacers’ bowling actions

The former pace bowler of India looked back at the time when Bumrah was at the National Cricket Academy before breaking into the national side. He also admitted that they didn’t think of the pacer lasting long in the national cricket because of the strenuous action and workload demands of a fast bowler.

“Instead of hammering these bowlers for ‘choosing matches,’ let’s enjoy watching them perform whenever they can. Enjoy the skills, the execution, the moments they create. Because if you dig deeper, you may find that the choices aren’t entirely theirs- sometimes the silence and incompetence of those in charge plays a part.” Sandhu oberseved in the same column. 

“Today’s players don’t have that luxury of privacy. Everywhere they go, fans, media, and smartphones follow. Fame now comes with influencer deals, paparazzi, sponsor obligations, and the pressure of keeping up with millions of followers. The money is massive, and so is the responsibility. And that’s what we often forget.” The 69-year-old concluded. 

Balwinder Singh Sandhu, born on August 3, 1956, is one of the forgotten legends of Indian cricket andan integral part of the 1983 World Cup triumph.

The promising all-rounder became one of the most useful cricketers for Team India after making his debut. But surprisingly, Sandhi's international career did not prolong as it was expected. In less than a 2-year international career, the Mumbai-born experienced a thrilling ride.

During the initial part of his career, Balwinder was mostly known for his bowling skills and abilitybat. But for India, in the first few matches, his batting skills came under the spotlight more than his bowling part. But that was not permanent. At present, when someone talks about the legend, he is remembered for his medium-pace bowling, which helped India to win the World Cup in 1983.

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International career suddenly came to an end

In the World Cup, against the mighty West Indies, the medium-pace bowling all-rounder got a much-needed breakthrough for India. The wicket of Gordon Greenidge is considered as one of the major moments of the rivalry. The way Sandhu tricked Greenidge is still considered study material for cricket enthusiasts. He provided the much-needed breakthrough the Indians needed in the final.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu made his international debut against the archrival Pakistan. Like his career, the match versus Pakistan was also full of events. Besides taking two quick wickets, Sandhu went to bat at number 9 and top-scored with 71. His best Test bowling figure came against the West Indies, 3 for 87. Sandhu's career was suddenly cut short just after the historic 1983 World Cup campaign. In 1983-84, he played in only one Test against the West Indies without any notable success; from then, his career graph gradually decreased.