Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lashed out at India’s think tank for not managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload with guile in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Bumrah bowled a total of 151.2 overs before he suffered a back injury and could not bowl in the second innings of the fifth Test match at the SCG on Sunday.
The gun fast bowler was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he grabbed 32 wickets at an astounding average of 13.06 and thus he was awarded Player of the Series for his consistent performances.
But it was a shame that Bumrah could not bowl in the second innings at the SCG after India set a target of 162. The Turbanator said Bumrah was given the ball every time a new batter came to the crease and thus he was the lone warrior of the attack.
Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube Channel, “He was used like you squeezed juice from sugarcane. It was like ‘Travis Head has come, give the ball to Bumrah, Marnus has come, give the ball to Bumrah, Steve Smith has come, give the ball to Bumrah’. How many overs will Bumrah bowl? He has been reduced to such a condition that he was not available at the end.”
“If he was there, Australia may have won the fifth Test but they would have lost eight wickets, it would have been tough for them. You broke his back and the management should have decided on how many overs he should be given.”
On the other hand, Harbhajan added that the team’s selection for the SCG Test was not right as India backed Washington Sundar ahead of a fourth seamer on a green pitch.
“The team selection was not right. Two spinners were played on a spicy pitch, you saw green patches. It is beyond my understanding that despite playing so much cricket and watching so much cricket you do not understand such a small thing… what to do on such pitch,” said Harbhajan.
India will next take on England in three ODIs and five T20Is.
