It is worth noting that Bumrah played just three Tests in the Test series against England.
Former Indian batsman Sandeep Patil spoke on the subject of players’ fitness and stressed that a physio should not be given more importance than the captain. He said that a player should be available whenever needed.
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Workload management “nonsense”: Sandeep
Calling workload management “nonsense”, Patil said that cricketers who played for the country gave their lives for the country, and he has seen the likes of Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar of the world working hard on the field even though they did not have access to modern facilities like the current generation of cricketers. He further said that the experienced cricketer used to play despite injuries.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir had informed in a press conference before the start of the England tour that Bumrah will play only three Test matches as the management is keeping a close watch on his workload, especially after he suffered a stress fracture in his back at the end of the 2024-2025 Border-Gavaskar series. Bumrah played the first, third and fourth Tests. He was rested for the fifth Test, which India had to win to level the series.
You die for your country: Patil
Speaking to India Today, Patil said, “I wonder how the BCCI is agreeing to all this? Is the physio more important than the captain or the head coach? What about the selectors? Do we now expect the physio to sit in the selection committee meetings? Will he take the decision?”
“When you are selected for your country, you are ready to die for your country. You are a warrior. I have seen Sunil Gavaskar bat on all five days of the match, I have seen Kapil Dev bowl on most days of a Test match and even bowl for us in the nets. He never asked for a break, never complained, and had a career that spanned over 16 years. After getting hit on the head in Australia in 1981, I did not miss the next Test match,” he said.
