We want to wheel Bumrah out, but also want to respect where his body's at - ten Doeschate

By Admin

01 Aug, 2025

As the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy reaches its pulsating climax, few names have dominated the discourse quite like Jasprit Bumrah. Whether spearheading India's pace attack or sitting out in plain sight, Bumrah has remained the focal point of cricketing debates. And now, with the fifth and final Test underway at The Oval, his absence though foreseen continues to stir strong emotions among fans and experts alike.

It was revealed earlier in the tour that Bumrah would only feature in three of the five Tests a calculated call to safeguard his long-term fitness after his back injury in Australia. Despite India's heavy reliance on his skills and the anticipation of him returning for the series finale, the management chose to rest him again. It was a decision that sparked many questions: Was this planned all along? Why was he missing when the stakes were this high?

India’s batting coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the growing curiosity head-on. “We obviously want to wheel him out, but we also want to respect where his body's at,” he stated on July 31. Bumrah, with 14 wickets from just three Tests including two five-fors and an average of 26 has played a pivotal role, trailing only Ben Stokes in the wicket-taking tally. But those 119.2 overs across largely unhelpful surfaces speak volumes about the physical toll he has endured.

Ten Doeschate further clarified that the choice of matches was strategic. Bumrah made himself available for three games, but left the final selection to the team. “We just felt that it wasn't worth including him in the squad [for The Oval Test]. It was right to honour that call,” he said, reaffirming that it wasn’t a case of Bumrah cherry-picking fixtures.

The team management was forced into a difficult jigsaw of decisions one that began with resting Bumrah during the second Test despite a full week's break and a 0-1 series deficit. With pitch conditions, team fatigue, and long-term health at play, Bumrah’s appearances were tactically spread out. “If we had used him in Manchester, and come into this game 3-1 down, people would’ve asked why we didn’t save him for The Oval,” ten Doeschate pointed out.

Yet, the domino effect of rotating Bumrah had wider repercussions. “It's not ideal,” ten Doeschate admitted, referring to the disruption in rhythm for the bowling unit and the morale of squad players. “But credit to the guys not playing they’ve trained hard, remained professional, and helped create a culture where those selected can perform.”

Meanwhile, on the English side, injury struck in a cruel twist of fate. England's bowling workhorse Chris Woakes, who has delivered 181 overs this series, suffered a suspected shoulder dislocation on Day 1 while fielding. Though the severity of the injury remains uncertain, it’s a blow England could ill afford, especially given Woakes’ all-round contributions.

“It doesn’t look great,” said teammate Gus Atkinson. “Whatever it is, he’ll get full support from the team.” Woakes’ injury not only weakens England’s bowling arsenal but also deprives them of vital lower-order runs.

In the final analysis, India’s cautious management of Bumrah though not without criticism was a necessary compromise between performance and preservation. As ten Doeschate said, it’s about "not guessing" but "looking into the future." And if India is to keep Bumrah roaring for many more tours ahead, such measured steps might be the price to pay for prolonged greatness.