The workload taken by Indian bowlers has been a big topic of discussion following an injury to Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Bumrah had bowled 151.2 overs in the series, while pace partner Mohammed Siraj bowled 164.1. However, despite the fact that Bumrah’s injury could see him be ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India’s 1983 World Cup-winner Balwinder Singh Sandhu stated that “workload” is a foreign concept, and that a bowler should not aspire to play for India if they cannot bowl 20 overs a day per match.

Speaking on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, Sandhu made his thoughts clear.

“Workload? How many overs did he (Bumrah) bowl? 150-something, right? But in how many matches or innings? Five matches or nine innings, correct? That comes down to 16 overs per innings or 30 overs per match. And he didn’t bowl those 15-plus overs in one go. He bowled in spells. So, is it a big deal?” Sandhu told TimesofIndia.com.

“Workload management is bull****. These are Australian terms, created by Australians. I come from an era when cricketers used to listen to their bodies and no one else. I don’t agree with this at all,” Sandhu vehemently added.

Workload management has been a big aspect of Bumrah’s career, particularly due to his unorthodox bowling action. However, Sandhu took the example of players like Kapil Dev to highlight that bowling 15-20 overs a day should not be a big ask.

“We used to bowl 25-30 overs in a day. Kapil (Dev) has bowled long spells throughout his career. Your body and muscles get conditioned when you bowl, bowl, and bowl,” Sandhu stated.

In a vociferous statement, Sandhu concluded that Bumrah or any other bowler who fails to consistently bowl long spells should consider giving up playing for the country.

“Today, you have the best physios, the best masseurs, and excellent doctors to take care of your body. If a bowler can’t bowl 20 overs in an innings, he should forget about playing for India,” Sandhu said.

Bumrah’s participation in the Champions Trophy is still up in the air, depending on how his recovery progresses.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has promised to help ex-cricketer Vinod Kambli amid concerns over his physical and mental well-being. Recently, Kambli attended a function honouring the late Ramakant Achrekar, who coached him and Sachin Tendulkar at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Several videos went viral on social media where Kambli even struggled to get up, speak clearly, and properly conduct himself. Seeing his current condition, several fans raised concerns over the well-being of Kambli, who is also going through a financial crisis.

During an interaction, Gavaskar revealed that the 1983 World Cup-winning team is indeed looking to help Kambli.

“I think the ’83 Team is very conscious of our younger players. They are like our sons. We are very concerned about our cricketers, particularly when fortune deserts them. So, I don’t think the word I want to help him is right. What the ’83 team wants to do is take care of him, and help him to get back on his feet. How we will do it, we will see in the very near future. We want to take of him, of cricketers on whom fortune is not smiling on them sometimes. That’s want the ’83 group want to do,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a member of the 1983 side, also revealed that he and his teammates would be more than happy to help Kambli financially, but only if the former batter was willing to enroll in rehab.

“Kapil (Dev, captain of the 1983 team) has told me clearly that if he wants to go to rehab, then we are willing to help him financially. However, he has to check into rehab himself first. Only if he does that, we are ready to foot the bill, irrespective of how long the treatment last” Sandhu told Times of India in a separate interaction.

As per Times of India, Kambli had gone to rehab 14 times, but to no avail. 

Kambli played 17 Tests and 104 ODIs for India between 1993 and 2000. He is the fastest Indian batter to score 1000 Test runs, a record which stands till date.