“Our responsibility to try and have him fresh for most of the important games” – Gautam Gambhir opens up on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management

India’s newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir feels it is imperative to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. Gambhir reckons it is important to keep Bumrah fresh for the big games. Bumrah played a key role in taking India to T20 World Cup glory, as he picked 15 wickets in eight matches at an impressive average of 8.27 and an economy rate of 4.18.

Bumrah has been rested for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, where India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is. The ace fast bowler had to miss the T20 World Cup 2022 due to a back injury and it is crucial for India to keep him fit as a fiddle as the team doesn’t have his like-for-like replacement.

Gautam Gambhir said in the press conference on Monday, “For Bumrah, because he is one rare kind of a bowler who anyone would want [in their team], so it’s our responsibility to try and have him fresh for most of the important games. So, workload management for, not just Bumrah, but fast bowlers becomes very, very important.”

“Workload management for someone like Jasprit Bumrah is important. For batters, if they can play consistently and if they are in good form, [they] might as well play all the games. With Rohit and Virat now not playing T20 cricket, they only have two formats to look after. So they are going to be available for most of the games.”

The former Indian opener feels a happy dressing room is a winning dressing room and his focus will be to get the best out of the players.

“My learning has been simple – it has been all about winning. I don’t deviate from something. We are in a profession where there can be only one winner. We try and play fair, we try and play hard, and try and come back in a winning dressing room and a happy dressing room. A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. Ultimately it is the players’ team, the support staff is there to try and get the maximum out of their potential,” said Gambhir.

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Pallekele on July 27.