As India prepares for a grueling five-Test home series against England to kick off the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, all eyes are on how the team handles its most prized fast-bowling asset—Jasprit Bumrah. With senior figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin absent or retired, Bumrah becomes central to India’s hopes. But his recent injury history has thrust workload management into the spotlight, with former National Cricket Academy (NCA) head physiotherapist Ashish Kaushik urging caution—not in the usual way.
Bumrah won’t play all five Tests
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has already confirmed that Bumrah will not be available for all five Tests, citing medical advice. Head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated this before the squad’s departure to England, stating the 31-year-old quick would likely play only three matches. This marks a significant shift in strategy following Bumrah’s heavy workload during the Australia tour, where he played all five Tests before suffering another back injury.
Kaushik: ‘Under bowling’ can be just as risky
While most discussions around injury management focus on limiting overs, Kaushik offered a contrarian but scientifically grounded view. The ex-NCA physiotherapist warned that doing too little can be just as harmful as doing too much.
“As much as you can be over bowled, you can also be under bowled. Workload is not only for bowling but training, too. It should be measured from all strenuous activities: bowling, batting, fielding, strength work, and conditioning work. It should not spike up or drop from where they can deliver,” Kaushik told SportsBoom.com.
He stressed that managing elite athletes like Bumrah requires a calibrated, holistic program—not rest alone.
“There is an acute to chronic workload ratio for every player. Research suggests that a certain amount of workload must be maintained to reduce the risk of injuries and going above or below that workload could pose a risk.”
The secret to sustained fitness: build strength, not skip sessions
Kaushik emphasized that bowlers must be physically ready to endure long spells, particularly in a high-stakes five-Test series.
“Strengthening a bowler enough to take the load of bowling is crucial. They will need to train and strengthen up, spend enough time on the ground and run enough in the form of conditioning programs and ensure the bodies can return in second and third spells and deliver in the same manner.”
Beyond physical drills, Kaushik also underscored the importance of recovery routines in between matches.
“After a bout of activity, one has to ensure the bodies recover on time before the next activity. They need offloading for a long time, where sleep, nutrition and emotional recovery are essential. It helps keep players energised for the next session.”
‘Safe zone’ preparation for India’s pace unit
Kaushik concluded with a broader message for the Indian management as they fine-tune preparations for the England challenge.
“Ahead of this Test series, the purpose should be to ensure all the players are in the safe zone, where the bodies are used to functioning at a certain level, and what they do on the field is not unexpected.”
That includes younger players like Arshdeep Singh, who is eyeing a maiden Test cap. The left-arm pacer has returned to familiar ground in Kent, where he previously played county cricket, as part of India’s preparations.
“As for today’s training session, my only motivation was to get a feel for the rhythm — how the body feels, how the red ball is coming out of the hand — because all the players have been playing with the white ball for quite a while. So I really enjoyed it,” Arshdeep told BCCI.TV.
He added that the focus now shifts to ramping up intensity in the lead-up to the series.
“Going forward, as we keep progressing step by step, the intensity will keep increasing, and we’ll keep making it more and more difficult for the batters to face the ball.”
High-stakes series under new leadership
With Shubman Gill stepping in as Test captain and Gambhir overseeing his first major series as head coach, the pressure is immense. The roadmap to success in this high-profile WTC series may well depend on how India manages its fast-bowling spearhead—by neither overworking nor underutilizing him.
Kaushik’s message is clear: balance is everything.
