With the series on the edge, resting Bumrah or Siraj could do more harm than good
While the sun might not always shine over Old Trafford, the spotlight certainly will. As India gears up for the fourth Test at Manchester-a ground where they've never secured a victory in nine tries-they face a challenging situation: a 1-2 series deficit and a crucial decision on workload management.
Caution is justified. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, India's leading fast bowlers, have bowled extensively-Siraj with 109 overs across three Tests, Bumrah with 86.4 overs in just two. The schedule has been gruelling, and conditions tough. However, now is not the moment for rotation; it's time to push hard.
The modern Test calendar is a relentless schedule with no pause button. Since the start of the World Test Championship cycle in 2019, India's fast bowlers have been the workhorses, shouldering the burden of away triumphs and home dominance. Siraj has bowled 993 overs in 39 Tests, averaging 25.4 overs per game. Bumrah, with his shorter career span and distinctive action, has delivered 1122 overs in 37 matches, averaging 30.3 per innings.
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However, those figures, while substantial, do not raise concerns, especially when compared to Australia's renowned trio. Pat Cummins averages 31.9 overs per match, Starc 29.1, and Hazlewood 30.4. In this context, India's pace duo is not yet being ground into dust.
This isn't just another day on the calendar. India is chasing history-not just to avoid their first series loss to England since 2018, but also to finally break their winless streak at Old Trafford. They've played nine Tests there-drawing five, losing four-but have never emerged victorious.
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And if there's any hope of changing that record, it heavily depends on Jasprit Bumrah's deadly accuracy and Siraj's relentless aggression. Even in defeat at Lord's, the pair supported the fight, bowling a combined 79 overs and claiming key breakthroughs.
Resting them now would be like removing your best chess pieces mid-game-premature, and possibly irreversible.
There's no doubt that workload management plays a crucial role in today's game. Long-term health is essential. India's medical team is aware of Bumrah's history. However, resting your top two pacers in a must-win Test-especially when there's a nine-day break before the match-is more about excessive caution than sports science.
Bumrah and Siraj perform best under pressure. They have repeatedly shown that rhythm matters more than rest for strike bowlers. Leaving them out of a series decider could backfire-not just tactically, but also psychologically.
Instead of rotating merely for workload optics, India must focus on the bigger picture—staying patient, correcting the middle-order collapses, and giving their best XI every chance to push for a 2-2 scoreline.
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The bowlers, as stats show, are not overly burdened. They are match-fit, mentally sharp, and have had adequate turnaround time.
The 2025 series in England may be remembered for its margins—the Lord's heartbreak by 22 runs, the Headingley mistake, the Edgbaston fightback. But what unfolds next at Old Trafford could define the series.
India cannot afford to blink. Not now. Not when Bumrah and Siraj are eager to play. Rest might be wise in dead rubbers. But this isn't one. This is a crossroads—and India must push through it, not tiptoe around.
