Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir face heat on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload: ‘Hum toh peeche reh gaye'

Jasprit Bumrah’s workload has been a topic of debate in the ongoing England tour (AP Photo)

England captain Ben Stokes led from the front on the final day of the Lord’s Test, bowling nearly 20 overs in a tireless effort to keep India at bay. Refusing to take a backward step, the all-rounder charged in relentlessly, setting the tone for England’s defence. His efforts were duly rewarded as he was named Player of the Match following England’s 22-run win, which gave the hosts a 2-1 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Stokes also chipped in with crucial knocks of 44 and 33, making his all-round performance the highlight of the Test.

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan criticized the team management and skipper Shubman Gill for not making adequate use of Jasprit Bumrah, citing two spells of Stokes on the final day, in which he bowled 9.2 and 10 overs.

In the Lord's Test, Bumrah bowled 43 overs. It should be noted that in the first game of the series at Headingley, the top-ranked Test bowler also sent down 43.4 overs. In the Edgbaston match, which India won by 336 runs, he was rested.

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But according to Pathan, India ought to have gone for the kill and tried to bundle out England cheaply in the first and second innings by using Bumrah. During the first innings, when England scored 387 runs, Bumrah took 5 wickets. The pacer took two wickets in 16 overs during the second innings. Pathan believes that instead of waiting for Joe Root to come out, the Indian pacer could have been introduced into the attack earlier in the second innings.

“Ben Stokes bowled a marathon 9.2 over spell in the morning on day five. What a player he is. He bowls, bats and executes a crucial run out of Rishabh Pant, but there is no talk of workload management. But with India, it is not like that. Bumrah bowls five overs and waits for Joe Root to come out to bat when you need to control the game in the second innings," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

“It was disappointing. His workload was managed, having not played at Edgbaston. When you play a match, there is no workload. You have to win at all costs. The Indian camp could have done that better,” he added.

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Jofra Archer, who played a Test after four years, was also praised by Irfan Pathan for bowling a marathon spell on the last day of the Lord's game. On Day 5, Archer put India on backfoot by dismissing Washington Sundar and Rishabh Pant. Archer bowled with lightning speed, rattling the Indian middle and lower order with his pace.

“Archer was playing a Test match after four years, but he did not stop. He bowled a six-over spell in the morning before returning to bowl again. Ben Stokes did not think about workload at all, if he can bowl nine overs, hum toh peeche reh gaye (Indian pacers were left behind),” Pathan said.

The fourth Test of the five-match series will start in Manchester on July 23.