ENG vs IND 2025: 'Workload management is a new thing' - Harbhajan Singh on Jasprit Bumrah's workload ahead of Manchester Test

With India walking into the fourth Test against England in Manchester in a must-win situation, the attention has once again turned to ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and the ongoing debate around workload management. With the visitors trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the upcoming match becomes a must-win for Shubman Gill and the team. With injury concerns and limited options in the squad, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has shared his views on Bumrah’s potential availability and the issue of player workload.

Before the series began, Indian management had made it clear that Bumrah would play only three out of the five Tests to manage his fitness. The decision was influenced by his workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 in Australia, where he bowled long spells and picked up a back injury. So far, Bumrah has featured in two Tests in the England series and is now expected to play just one of the remaining two.

However, with the team being affected due to a series of injuries, including to Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Rishabh Pant, the visitors are expected to bring Bumrah in for the do-or-die match at Old Trafford. Speaking on the sidelines of the WCL 2025, the former questioned the overuse of the term workload management in modern cricket.

"See, workload management is a new thing. Once IPL came, people said that I would bowl 24 balls in a match and they would be absolutely spot on, and that is how people trained. If you go back in time? What was the workload? The workload was fitness. Players played a 5-match series in the past as well. But yes, if someone is concerned about the injury, then you need to be careful," Harbhajan Singh said.

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Jasprit is the most honest cricketer out there: Harbhajan 

Harbhajan called Bumrah one of the most honest cricketers in the game today. But he mentioned that the star fast bowler over-bowled himself in Australia, which led to injuries.

"But see, Jasprit is the most honest cricketer out there. If he is not in pain, he will not only bowl a 4-over spell, but he will bowl a 10-over spell for you. He did that in Australia as well. He bowled so much there that he got injured. His action contributes to that well. His run-up is short, and you have to bowl at high speed, so the finishing of his action puts a lot of stress on the body. If his body is well, make him play 5 Tests. If he plays 5 Tests, India will win the series. Ask any opposition, they will say that they do not prefer facing Bumrah," he added.

Harbhajan also urged the team management to include wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, believing that Kuldeep could be the mystery element against England’s Bazball approach. He further expressed disappointment over the treatment of young batter Sai Sudharsan, who was dropped after just one Test

"Kuldeep should be playing. The brand of cricket England likes to play, they will not be able to do that against Kuldeep. He could be your mystery bowler against them. You have to reduce one batter from the team. If it were left to me, I would drop Nitish Reddy and bring in Kuldeep. I would have stuck with Sai Sudharsan. I would not have thrown him out after just one game. You gave him a chance at No.3 ahead of Karun Nair, and you should have stuck with him for at least three matches. He is a phenomenal talent and should get the backing of the team management. You played him over Karun, then you dropped him. Now there is an air that you want to drop Karun also from the next game, this simply ruins the flow, doesn't it?" he concluded.