Jasprit Bumrah has once again become the centre of debate in Indian cricket, this time due to his workload during the ongoing Asia Cup. The fast bowler has featured in three of India’s four matches so far, shouldering the responsibility of bowling every over of the powerplay in those outings.
His absence from the final group fixture against Oman showed that the team management is handling his workload with care, especially with the upcoming Test series against West Indies in mind. The decision shows his importance to the side and the awareness that overuse could trigger old injury problems.
Looking at the numbers, Bumrah’s Asia Cup campaign has been steady if unspectacular. Across three matches, he has taken three wickets, bowled a total of eleven overs, and maintained an economy rate of 8.36.
His toughest day came against Pakistan, where he went wicketless and conceded forty-five runs. While that outing seemed poor on paper, the context matters. He takes on perhaps the most draining role for any fast bowler in this format, bowling the entire power play and then returning at the death.
Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, highlighted this very point ahead of the Super Four clash with Bangladesh. He admitted that Bumrah was not at his best against Pakistan, but he stressed that the bowler’s task leaves little room for economy or comfort.
The broader strategy backs two fast bowlers and leans heavily on spin. Within such a structure, Bumrah becomes both the spearhead and the shield, operating at the start and the end of an innings where the pressure is unrelenting.
On days when he fails to take wickets, he risks looking expensive, yet the team’s set-up makes his overs indispensable. That clarity from the management ensures they view even costly spells as part of a larger plan, not as failures.
"He's doing a very tough task. You don't see many bowlers in this format bowling all three overs in the powerplay. So it's quite strenuous as well. But we feel it's the right amount of work going into the Test match [against West Indies] and obviously the importance of this competition as well,” said Ryan ten Doeschate on the eve of the Super Four game against Bangladesh as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"It wasn't his most polished performance against Pakistan the other night. But we also understand that he's doing an exceptionally tough job to bowl the first three overs, the two [fielders] out, and the last over and the second last over, where guys are going as well. There's going to be days where he doesn't get wickets, and he's going to go for runs. But in terms of how we set up the team, obviously with two seamers and going spin-heavy, we feel at the moment that's the best job,” the former Dutch cricketer said.
As India move deeper into the Asia Cup and prepare for red-ball commitments, Bumrah’s management faces constant scrutiny. Every over he bowls carries weight beyond the immediate contest, for it ties directly to his ability to stay fit and effective across formats. India knows too well the difference his presence makes, which is why the team carefully calibrates his workload.
