ENG vs IND 2025: 'No talk of workload with Stokes' - Irfan Pathan questions India's usage of Jasprit Bumrah at Lord's
"Archer was playing a Test match after four years but he did not stop. He bowled a six-over spell in the morning," said Irfan.
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After England's narrow 22-run victory over India in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Lord’s, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted Ben Stokes' remarkable fitness and commitment. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries in the past year, the England skipper bowled extended spells throughout the match.
Pathan pointed to Stokes as an example of exceptional physical and mental resilience, subtly sparking conversation around the topic of player workload in modern cricket. His remarks appeared to indirectly reference India’s plan to limit Jasprit Bumrah’s appearances to just three Tests as part of their workload strategy.
"Ben Stokes bowled a marathon 9.2 over spell in the morning on day five. What a player he is. He bowls, bats and executes a crucial run out of Rishabh Pant but there is no talk of workload management. But with India it is not like that," said Pathan in his YouTube channel.
"Bumrah bowls five overs and waits for Joe Root to come out to bat when you need to control the game (in the second innings). It was disappointing. His workload was managed having not played at Edgbaston. When you play a match, there is no workload. You have to win at all costs. The Indian camp could have done that better," he added.
Stokes sets record at Lord's with fourth POTM award in Tests
Since India’s Test squad for the England tour was announced back in May, one of the most discussed topics revolved around how many matches Bumrah would be available for during the five-match series. The ace pacer was rested for the Edgbaston Test after featuring in the series opener at Headingley, in line with the team’s workload management strategy.
In contrast, England captain delivered a tireless performance at Lord’s, bowling extended spells under testing conditions. His hit-the-deck style, especially in the heat, made his effort all the more commendable. Pathan also lauded Jofra Archer’s performance, noting that the England pacer maintained his pace across nearly 40 overs, including lengthy second-innings spells at Lord’s.
He suggested there may be lessons to draw from how Archer managed his spells during key phases of the match, offering a potential example for India to consider when managing their own fast-bowling resources.
"Archer was playing a Test match after four years but he did not stop. He bowled a six-over spell in the morning before returning to bowl again. Ben Stokes did not think about workload at all, if he can bowl nine overs, hum toh peeche rah gaye (Indian pacers were left behind)," Irfan said.
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