Jasprit Bumrah only played three of the five Tests in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which has drawn a lot of attention to the workload management topic.
The bowler has divided opinions on how the BCCI and the team management should handle his workload in Test cricket, with many cricketers from yesteryears standing against the pick-and-choose policy.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
While Sanjay Manjrekar called out Bumrah for skipping two Tests despite facing no physical discomfort, Aakash Chopra has stood up for the bowler on the issue, comparing him to the Kohinoor Diamond.
Aakash Chopra fears early retirement for Jasprit Bumrah after workload management criticism:
Reacting to Manjrekar's recent column on his YouTube channel (Aakash Chopra), the former India opener strongly stood with Bumrah, noting he should play whenever he can.
"I was also reading Sanjay Manjrekar's piece. In the Hindustan Times, he wrote that the team shouldn't adjust for Bumrah and, instead, Bumrah should adjust for the team. I know there are plenty of opinions as to what should be done. I will be honest, I don't think he will play all the Test matches," he said.
"He is going to pick and choose. Whether it's right or wrong, it's not a moral or ethical debate, is what I think. If you have a player of that level available, play him whenever he can. There is no bowler like Bumrah."
"Don't push him forcibly towards early retirement because he is 24-carat pure gold. He is the Kohinoor diamond. The longer he plays, the better it is. I don't think he will play too much Test cricket, but for however long he plays, I would say hold onto it. That's just my feeling," Chopra emphasized.
The 47-year-old cricketer also compared the situation with a batter missing matches, highlighting the importance of a bowler getting rest.
Among the points noted in Bumrah's favour in the discourse are the complexity of his action, where his body is put under extra load, as compared to other pacers.
What did Sanjay Manjrekar say about Jasprit Bumrah?
In the aforementioned Hindustan Times article, Manjrekar was critical of Bumrah's workload management issue and used some strong words while calling the bowler out for picking and choosing.
"As for Bumrah, of whom I am a fan, if he really wants to serve Indian Test cricket, longevity and durability is an imperative for him, it’s after all the true test of a great athlete is to still turn up when not 100% fit and deliver. Indian cricket must not adjust for Bumrah; Bumrah must. That is, if he wants to," he wrote.
READ MORE: "India are far ahead" - Former Pakistan batter
For added context, the Indian ace pacer has bowled 1106.1 overs in 76 Test innings, scalping 157 wickets since 2020. Mohammed Siraj, on the other hand, has bowled 1069.5 overs in 76 overs for his 123 wickets during the same period.
The 31-year-old has bowled the most among Indian pacers since the start of this decade, despite a back surgery in 2022.
In the recent England series, he finished three matches with 14 wickets, including 2 five-wicket hauls at Headingley and Lord's. He was India's second-highest wicket-taker after Mohammed Siraj's 23 wickets in 5 matches.