The workload of India’s quicks is at present an important aspect for the team management, especially with less than a month to go for the Border Gavaskar Trophy
in Australia.

Among the fast bowlers, spearhead Jasprit Bumrah assumes immense significance for India. Since senior pacer Mohammed Shami’s participation right from the start
of the five-match series Down Under is still uncertain, Bumrah’s role will be massive
for India’s prospects to come up trumps against Pat Cummins and Co.

Alongside his skill set, his experience too is vital.

Since the start of India’s Test season in Chennai against Bangladesh last month, Bumrah has featured in all three games. He has had to do a fair bit of bowling in two of those Tests at least, barring in Kanpur, where rain had abandoned over two days of play.

Winning the first two Tests of the ongoing series against New Zealand could have given India the chance to rest Bumrah for the final game in Mumbai beginning on November 1. But that prospect no longer exists following India’s eight-wicket loss at the Chinnaswamy.

The team management is, however, monitoring Bumrah’s workload and seems to be looking for a room to consider giving him rest once the Pune Test is over.

“Once this series is over, we’ll still have around 10-12 days before the first Test starts in Australia (on November 22 in Perth). That is enough break for our fast bowlers as well. But we’ll still monitor after this Test match as to where Bumrah is,” head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Wednesday.

“But it’s not only about Bumrah. It’s about all the other fast bowlers as well. We want to keep them fresh. We know that we’ve got a long tour and an important tour
of Australia.

“Workload management will depend on the outcome of this (Pune) Test and how much have they bowled in this game.”

If India win in Pune and restore parity in the series, the decision to rest Bumrah for Mumbai may certainly gain momentum. But, will the team management continue thinking along those lines if India aren’t able to win this second Test?

Even a draw will cost them crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points.

India at present are atop the WTC standings with 68.06 percentage points. To seal their place in the final at Lord’s next June, irrespective of the other results, India need at least four wins and a draw (52 points) in their remaining seven Tests, which will give them 65.79 percentage points.

“It’s a tricky call for the team to make regarding resting Bumrah. He’s the vice-captain for this series, and by chance, skipper Rohit (Sharma) misses the Mumbai Test, who leads the team then?” a BCCI official pointed out.

The scope to rest Mohammed Siraj and bring in Akash Deep for the Pune or Mumbai Test cannot be ruled out either.