New Zealand’s fast bowling legend Shane Bond has warned that another injury to Jasprit Bumrah’s back, after his surgery, could end his career if not handled carefully.
No one knows better than Bond how a back injury can threaten the career of a fast bowler. Drawing from his own experience, the former Kiwi pacer shared his concern that another injury to Bumrah’s back could end his career. He advised the Indian team management to be cautious in managing Bumrah’s workload.
Bumrah was sidelined after suffering back issues during the second innings of the final Test against Australia in Sydney this January. Since then, he has been out of action, with India winning the recently concluded Champions Trophy without him.
Currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Bumrah’s full recovery timeline remains uncertain, as does his return to the IPL with Mumbai Indians.
In March 2023, Bumrah underwent back surgery, and this is his first back injury since then. Bond, who has worked with Bumrah as Mumbai’s bowling coach for several years and is now the Rajasthan Royals bowling coach in India, advised managing his workload effectively to prevent this injury from recurring.
Bond, who had back surgery at the same age as Bumrah, continued his career until the age of 34 despite persistent injuries, retiring first from Test cricket and then from all formats within six months.
Bond believes fast bowlers are at a higher risk of injury when they transition quickly from T20s to Tests. This is his concern regarding Bumrah. After the IPL ends on May 25, India will tour England for five Tests in June.
“Look, I think Bumrah will be fine, but it’s about managing his workload. Looking at future tours and schedules, when can he be rested, and when is the danger period? It often happens that going from the IPL straight into the Test Championship is risky,” Bond said.
He added that switching from T20 to Test cricket is particularly challenging. “If you’re playing a one-day series, it’s not as bad. You play three games a week with one practice session, which is closer to 40 overs of bowling, nearly the same as a Test. But in T20s, especially the IPL, you play three games a week with travel and minimal practice, often bowling only 20 overs, which is half or less than half of a Test match.”
During India’s recent tour of Australia, Bumrah was the mainstay of the Indian bowling attack, claiming 32 wickets at an average of 13.06. After bowling 151.2 overs, his body showed signs of strain.
India will play five Tests in England from June 28 to August 3. Bond feels Bumrah should not be overused, as he was during the Australian tour. “For the upcoming World Cup, he is very valuable. If I were in charge, I wouldn’t want him playing more than two consecutive Tests during the England tour. Going straight from the end of the IPL to a Test match would be a huge risk. How they manage it will be key.”
Before the England tour, the IPL will be Bumrah’s only competitive cricket.
