It’s a complex issue around Bumrah, says Doeschate

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the final Test against England, citing workload management and past injuries, insisting decisions were made in the team’s best interest.

Hyderabad: India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defended the move to leave out pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the final Test against England at The Oval on Thursday, saying that it is “quite a complex issue” around the star bowler.

“We obviously want to wheel him out, but we also want to respect where his body is at, and on the basis of that, we just felt that it wasn’t worth including him in the squad,” Doeschate said on Thursday after the first day’s play.

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However, Doeschate admitted that, having bowled lots of overs, it was important to allow that breather to Bumrah for him to recover.

“Bumrah has bowled a large number of overs. I know it doesn’t always seem like that because he’s only played three Tests and he’s only bowled in one innings in Manchester,” Doeschate said.

“But, if you look at the loads, he’s bowled a lot of overs, and like he did say coming into the tour, he was going to be available for three games, and we just felt it was right on that call,” he said.

The assistant coach also said it wasn’t fair to comment that Bumrah was picking and choosing games, considering his injury-prone past and back surgeries.

“I don’t think picking and choosing is a fair comment to Bumrah. He did say he was going to play three games, he left it up to us which three he played. We’ve tried to manage the situation, it’s not ideal. I guess giving those guys attention, the guys who aren’t playing particularly when you’re carrying 18, is important,” Doeschate explained.

“We make them know that you’re making all the decisions in good faith, in the best interest of the team, and just on that, all the guys who haven’t played, they’ve been fantastic. They’ve trained the house down, they’re disappointed when they get left out,” he said.