Robin Uthappa Stresses Need to Manage Jasprit Bumrah’s Workload Ahead of World Cup

Former players discuss Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness management and review South Africa’s competitive tour of India.

India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah requires careful workload management due to his intense bowling style, according to former cricketer Robin Uthappa. Bumrah was rested for the recent ODI series against South Africa but returned to play a key role in the T20I matches.

Uthappa emphasized that protecting the star pacer’s fitness is crucial for his longevity and performance, especially with major tournaments ahead. Meanwhile, the T20I series stands at 2-1, with the final game offering South Africa a chance to level the contest.

Uthappa on ‘Match-Winner’ Jasprit Bumrah

“He is an absolute match-winner, and managing his workload is crucial. Fast bowling is probably the toughest skill in the sport, and Bumrah does it at high pace with a demanding action,” said Uthappa on JioStar’s ‘Cricket Live’.

“You want to protect that, but at the same time, you want him to play enough cricket. We’ve seen glimpses of his brilliance, and hopefully he can build consistency over the next few games heading into the World Cup,” he added.

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Speaking on the T20I series and South Africa’s tour, Uthappa noted the visitors’ competitive spirit mixed with inconsistency.

“South Africa have played very competitively, but they’ve been a bit hot and cold in the T20I series… It’s going to be an interesting contest (in Ahmedabad) because they will want to level the series,” concluded Uthappa.