Bumrah overburdened, but Siraj, Akash are bowling their hearts out too: Rohit

Jasprit Bumrah has taken 30 wickets in the first four Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, which is the most number of wickets by any bowler. But the 141.2 overs bowled by him are also the most by any bowler in the series, increasing his workload all the time. 

It was not for nothing that he was heard saying, “Ab Zor nhi lag rha (I don’t have the energy)” on Rohit Sharma’s request to go hard at Australia’s number 10 and 11 in the morning session of Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

But Rohit clarified in the post-match press conference that India are cautious of the pacer’s workload. 

“If somebody is in great form, we try to maximise their potential. We have been very careful, though, his workload must be managed carefully, and I am trying to do that,” he said after India’s 184 runs defeat in the fourth Test. 

Rohit also said that although only Bumrah has got the wickets, it's not like other bowlers have not given their best. Mohammed Siraj has bowled nearly 130 overs in four Tests, and Akash Deep has bowled 77.5 in just two Tests. 

“Akash and Siraj are frontline seamers. It is just unfortunate that they have not been seen more often in the wickets column. Siraj is bowling his heart out, but the wicket column does not show how well he has bowled,” he said. 

Confronted on whether there will be change in playing 11 for the fifth and final Test in Sydney, Rohit said that it will depend on the conditions as the team always comes first more than the individuals. 

In the same breath, he also clarified about Shubman Gill’s position in the playing 11 and why he was not picked for the MCG Test. 

“I don’t know what team we will go with [in Sydney]. The chat with Shubman was that he was not dropped. We wanted a cushion with the bowling, so we opted for an all-rounder. 

"We wanted to have someone so that the batting is deep and we could have a bowling attack which could take 20 wickets as well. The team always comes first, and then we take the venue and the opposition into consideration,” he said.