'Puts immense stress on back, knees, ankles' - Sri Lanka's hat-trick hero dissects Jasprit Bumrah's workload

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Farveez Maharoof recently compared Jasprit Bumrah's prowess to Wasim Akram's prime. He also spoke on how India's frontline bowler has grown from strength to strength over the years. Bumrah has developed into a lethal all-format bowler for India, but that has also led to excess workload on his body, which is tough to handle, according to the cricketer-turned-commentator.

Maharoof, who is famous for his hat-trick against India in the 2010 Asia Cup, recalled how Bumrah was no more a one-tricky pony, citing his experience of representing Southern Express against Mumbai Indians and facing Bumrah in a group-stage game in Raipur in the 2014 instalment of the now-defunct Champions League tournament.

“(On what makes him effective) I think his action and ability now. I remember when I played against Jasprit in the Champions League, around 2013 or 2014. What I remember of him then and what I see now is a big difference. Gone are the days when he was, for example, just an inswing bowler to right-handers. Nowadays, he has developed an effective outswing as well. If you ask 90% of the batters around the world, apart from India, who the most difficult bowler to face in any form of the game is, they say Jasprit Bumrah. That’s similar to how Wasim Akram was seen in his prime,” stated Maharoof in an interview with India Today.

Unlike a major part of the cricket community, which threw criticism at Bumrah for not being available for India for a string of matches, Maharoof empathized with the 31-year-old. He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take proper care of him in terms of workload. He further elaborated on the strain the body undergoes while bowling regularly as a fast bowler.  

“He has done wonderfully well, but unfortunately, he keeps getting injured because of his back issues. Being a fast bowler myself, I understand what he is going through. It’s important for him as well as the BCCI to manage his workload carefully going forward because Jasprit Bumrah is one of a kind. Players like him don’t come into the system very often, so when he’s there, it’s crucial to maximise his international career. People have to understand that every time a fast bowler delivers a ball, more than three times their body weight goes through their body. This puts immense stress on the back, knees, ankles - everything,” he added.

Bumrah recently represented India in three Tests out of five during their red-ball tour of England. Numerous ex-cricketers condemned Bumrah for being choosy when it came to representing the nation, but not while playing franchise T20 cricket for MI. He will next be in action during the 2025 Asia Cup, to be played in the United Arab Emirates. The Men in Blue are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Oman, and UAE.