You Can’t Pick & Choose if Selected for India: Irfan on Bumrah
The Indian cricket team has been dealing with a recurring issue of workload management, particularly with their fast bowlers. The recent decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against Australia has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts. Ex-India cricketer Irfan Pathan has weighed in on the issue, expressing his concerns about the team’s approach to managing workload.
In an interview with News18, Pathan emphasized that if a player is selected for the Indian team, they cannot pick and choose when to play or not. He believes that the team needs to plan for the long haul, including Test matches, assuming that bowlers like Bumrah and Mohammad Shami won’t always be available.
“I think it’s a bit strange that Bumrah is being rested for the second Test. If you’re selected for the Indian team, then because of workload, you cannot pick and choose. You have to be available for the team, whether it’s a Test, ODI, or T20,” Pathan said.
Pathan’s comments come at a time when the Indian team is facing a challenging situation. The absence of Bumrah, who is one of the team’s most skilled fast bowlers, is a significant blow. The team will have to rely on other bowlers to fill the gap, but Pathan fears that this could lead to instability in performance.
“Look, I’m not saying that Akash Deep is not a good bowler, but the problem is that he’ll only play when Bumrah is not available. So, he’ll never get a chance to settle down and get a rhythm. That’s the issue. If you keep changing bowlers, you’ll never get stability in performance,” Pathan said.
The ex-cricketer also highlighted the importance of planning for Tests, which require a different set of skills and endurance compared to limited-overs cricket. He emphasized that the team needs to prioritize the longer format and develop a strategy to manage the workload of their fast bowlers.
“Tests are a different ball game altogether. You need to plan for Tests assuming that Bumrah and Shami won’t always be available. You need to have a plan B, plan C, and plan D. You can’t just rely on one or two bowlers,” Pathan said.
Pathan’s comments have sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts, with some agreeing with his sentiments and others defending the team’s decision to rest Bumrah. However, it’s undeniable that the issue of workload management is a complex one, and the Indian team needs to find a balance between resting players and maintaining consistency in performance.
In conclusion, Irfan Pathan’s words of wisdom serve as a reminder that cricket is a team sport, and individual players need to put the team’s interests first. While resting players is necessary to prevent burnout, it’s equally important to prioritize the team’s performance and develop a strategy to manage workload. The Indian team needs to find a way to balance these competing demands and emerge stronger as a result.
