Indian captain Rohit Sharma has fiercely defended his management of Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia amidst the growing criticism over his underuse of the premier pacer at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
After Bumrah’s heroic performance in the first Test in Perth, where he scalped eight wickets in 30 overs to lead India to a dominant 295-run victory, expectations were high from the pacer for the Day-Night Test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
Rohit Sharma defends handling of Jasprit Bumrah amid criticism in Adelaide Test
But surprisingly, Jasprit Bumrah was used sparingly, raising questions about his role in India’s crushing 10-wicket loss to Australia in the pink-ball Test. Amidst the heavy criticism, Rohit Sharma emphasized that Test cricket is a team effort and that no single player can carry the burden alone.
The Indian skipper admitted that Bumrah is a key asset for the team, but at the same time, he stressed that the responsibility must be shared between the 11 players. He said that this rule applies to the batters and bowlers.
Rohit Sharma said at the post-match press conference: “It’s just not about one individual or two; if you want to win a Test or a series, everyone has to share the responsibility, put their hand up, and get the job done.”
You can’t expect Bumrah to bowl from both ends: Rohit Sharma
The Indian captain also shared insights into his decision-making process regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s use in the ongoing five-match Test series in Australia, focusing on his fitness and workload. Rohit explained that he regularly checks in with Bumrah during spells to assess how his body is holding up.
With three Test matches ahead, Rohit said that their prime goal is to keep Bumrah fresh for all matches. The Indian skipper has also emphasized the importance of managing bowlers’ workloads, saying it is unrealistic to expect Bumrah to bowl continuously and take wickets.
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Rohit further explained, “I keep talking to him (Jasprit Bumrah) during his spells, asking how his body is holding up. It’s a five-Test series, and we want Bumrah to be fresh and play all five matches. It’s important to analyze these things; workload management is crucial. Planning always happens. You can’t expect Bumrah to bowl from both ends, from morning to evening. It’s important to manage the bowlers. We talk to them and then make decisions.”
Rohit Sharma stresses the importance of backing young talents like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy
Meanwhile, on Day 2, Rohit Sharma gave Harshit Rana a longer five-over spell after Nitish Kumar Reddy’s single over, which helped India to secure the key wicket of Marnus Labuschagne.
Explaining the reason behind the move, Rohit emphasized the importance of building confidence in young bowlers, as it’s not just about relying on one player like Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj.
With newcomers like Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Reddy in the Indian cricket team, Rohit has insisted that his role is to support and build their confidence. The Indian skipper believes that it’s crucial for the young players to feel assured when they get the opportunity to play.