386 overs bowled, 2316 balls delivered for 85 wickets in 2024, Jasprit Bumrah, at the moment, is the most worked bowler in the world. He is leading the Indian pace attack in the Border Gavaskar Trophy with 29 wickets. With the Sydney Test coming up, Bumrah will have bowled nearly 450 overs in 2024, more than any pacer from any team. However, this is a cause of concern for the India Cricket Team. With the crucial ICC Champions Trophy Coming up apart from a long five-match Test tour to England, Bumrah’s workload is under the scanner.
Jasprit Bumrah in 2024
| Format | Inn | Overs | Balls | Wickets | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 26 | 356.2 | 2138 | 70 | 6/45 |
| T20I | 8 | 29.4 | 178 | 15 | 3/7 |
| ODI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 13 | 51.5 | 311 | 20 | 5/21 |
| Total | 47 | 437.5 | 2627 | 105 | 6/45 |
Long season ahead
While Jasprit Bumrah will get a month-long break before the IND vs ENG ODI series, that’s all he has to recuperate before a long season. Starting Feb 6, 2025, Bumrah will play at least 24 matches in the next six months.
- ODIs: 8 (if India qualify for CT semis and final)
- IPL: 14 matches (Minimum)
- Tests: 5
Out of the 24 matches, Bumrah will be most crucial for the ICC Champions Trophy and India tour of England in June-August. He is also crucial to Mumbai Indians‘ plans for IPL 2025. Hence, Bumrah is expected to carry a heavy workload in the first half of 2025.
“The medical team is in touch with the NCA on Bumrah’s workload. We are all aware of the situation. But he is our top bowler and without his contribution, the pace attack has looked ordinary. He will get a month’s break and hopefully, it will be a good break for him to manage the workload,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Workload concerns
Jasprit Bumrah has already missed three years of his career due to long-term injuries. Hence, he has been under the scanner of BCCI’s medical team throughout. While the BCCI has managed to keep him fit, giving him breaks between the two series, the workload is not typical for him due to his bowling action. The lack of support from other pacers has forced even Rohit Sharma to bowl him most overs in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah has bowled 140.4 overs in the four Tests so far in the IND vs AUS Test series. Mohammed Sirah comes closest with 128.1 overs. However, the lack of Siraj and Akash Deep wickets means Bumrah ends up bowling shorter but frequent spells. And when Rishabh Pant asked whether he could bowl one more spell, Bumrah refused, saying “bas ab, nhi lag rha hai zor” (Enough now. Not able to bowl).
However, Sanjay Manjrekar does not believe Bumrah is overworked. As Bumrah has only played 34% of India’s matches in the last three years, Manjrekar believes he is well-rested and that BCCI has taken care of his workload.
“I play him every Test match purely because Indian cricket takes care of Bumrah. I’ve said this before as well, the number is etched in my head. 34% of international matches that India have played in the last three years is what Bumrah has played. So he’s well rested. And this is when you need it because these are the series that will be remembered forever. Give him a break in one of those bilaterals that we forget 48 hours later,” Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPN Cricinfo.
Most worked pacers of 2024
However, Jasprit Bumrah is not alone. BCCI should be concerned about Mohd Siraj’s workload as well. He has also bowled 330.3 overs in international cricket in 2024 apart from bowling 54 overs in the IPL. Siraj will also get a break from the IND vs ENG T20 series to keep him fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy.
| Player | Country | Balls | Overs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | India | 2316 | 386 | 85 |
| Mohammed Siraj | India | 1983 | 330.3 | 40 |
| Alzarri Joseph | West Indies | 1942 | 323.4 | 63 |
| Asitha Fernando | Sri Lanka | 1921 | 320.1 | 51 |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 1903 | 317.1 | 44 |
| Gus Atkinson | England | 1852 | 308.4 | 52 |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 1852 | 308.4 | 34 |
| Pat Cummins | Australia | 1802 | 300.2 | 47 |
| Matt Henry | New Zealand | 1769 | 294.5 | 57 |
| Josh Hazlewood | Australia | 1662 | 277 | 50 |
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 1654 | 275.4 | 52 |
| Chris Woakes | England | 1564 | 260.4 | 32 |
| Hasan Mahmud | Bangladesh | 1523 | 253.5 | 35 |
| Taskin Ahmed | Bangladesh | 1521 | 253.3 | 63 |
| Jayden Seales | West Indies | 1496 | 249.2 | 42 |
| William O’Rourke | New Zealand | 1496 | 249.2 | 40 |
| Shamar Joseph | West Indies | 1348 | 224.4 | 40 |
| Lahiru Kumara | Sri Lanka | 1245 | 207.3 | 35 |
| Vishwa Fernando | Sri Lanka | 1230 | 205 | 29 |
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