Harbhajan Singh Comments on Bumrah’s Workload Ahead of England-India Test Match

India must win the fourth Test against England in Manchester to stay alive in the five-match series, as they currently trail 1-2. As the match approaches, the focus is once again on star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the ongoing discussion about managing players’ workload. With limited choices available due to injuries, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has given his opinion on whether Bumrah should play and how workload management affects players.

Before the series started, the Indian team management announced that Bumrah would only play in three of the five Tests to protect his fitness. This decision was made considering his heavy workload during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 in Australia, where he bowled long spells and suffered a back injury. So far, Bumrah has played in two of the Tests against England and is expected to be part of only one of the two remaining matches.

With several key players like Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Rishabh Pant out due to injuries, the Indian team might bring in Jasprit Bumrah for the crucial do-or-die match at Old Trafford. While speaking during the WCL 2025 event, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh raised concerns over the frequent use of the term “workload management” in today’s cricket.

He said, “Workload management is a new concept. After the IPL started, people began saying they bowl just 24 balls in a match, and trained accordingly. But if you look at the past, workload simply meant staying fit. Earlier, players also played 5-match series without issues. Still, if there’s a real risk of injury, then yes, players must be managed carefully.”

“Jasprit Bumrah Is the Most Honest Cricketer Today, Says Harbhajan Singh”

Harbhajan Singh praised Jasprit Bumrah, calling him one of the most honest cricketers in the game today. He said Bumrah always gives his best for the team and doesn’t hold back unless he is really in pain. Harbhajan mentioned that during the Australia tour, Bumrah bowled so much that he ended up getting injured. His unique bowling action also puts extra pressure on his body because he runs in from a short distance and delivers the ball at high pace, which can cause strain. Harbhajan said, “If Bumrah is fully fit, let him play all five Tests. If he plays all five, India will likely win the series. Ask any opponent — no one enjoys facing Bumrah.”

Harbhajan also suggested that wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav should be given a place in the playing XI. He believes Kuldeep’s style could be very effective against England’s aggressive “Bazball” strategy. Additionally, he expressed frustration over the decision to drop young batter Sai Sudharsan after just one Test match, saying the team should have given him more chances.

“Kuldeep should be part of the playing eleven. The way England plays their aggressive style of cricket won’t work well against him. He can be your surprise bowler. To make space for him, you might need to drop a batter. If I had to decide, I would leave out Nitish Reddy and bring in Kuldeep. Also, I would have continued with Sai Sudharsan. It wasn’t fair to drop him after just one match. You trusted him at number three over Karun Nair, so he deserved at least three games to prove himself. He’s a very talented player and needs the support of the team management. You chose him over Karun and then removed him. Now it looks like you want to drop Karun too. This kind of constant chopping and changing affects the team’s rhythm,” he said.