“Yes, there is,” Rohit said. “To be honest, he has bowled a lot of overs. There is no doubt about it. But, again, in every Test match we play, we take it into account. You know, the workload of all the bowlers, of But again, if someone is in that good shape, you have to try to maximize that shape as much as you can. And that’s what we’ve been trying to do with Bumrah.
“But there comes a time when you need to step back a little bit and give him a little extra breathing space as well. So we’ve been very careful. I’ve been very careful. I talk to him about how he feels and things like that. So, yeah “Those things have to be handled carefully and I’m trying to do that on the field.”
Bumrah’s 53.2 overs at the MCG are the most he has ever bowled in a Test match. That took his tally for the series to 141.2, putting his workload ahead of Pat Cummins (136.4), Mitchell Starc (131.2) and Mohammed Siraj (129.1).
India gave up an important and decisive century in Adelaide, two in Brisbane and another in Melbourne, not to mention a whirlwind fifty for a 19-year-old debutant on Boxing Day. Would India have posed a bigger threat if they had opted for another frontline bowling option instead of filling the back of the XI with all-rounders?
“Look, Akash Deep (five wickets at 54) and Mohammed Siraj (16 wickets at 13) are the frontline seamers,” Rohit said. “It’s just that they’ve been very unlucky not to be seen in the wicket column.
“Siraj, especially, is throwing his heart out. I don’t think there’s anything else he can do. Obviously, there are technical aspects of his game that he’s analyzing. But other than that, in terms of his effort, his attitude, playing the bowling during those long spells, he’s always up there. It’s just that the wicket column doesn’t show how well he’s bowled.
“So is Akash. In Brisbane and here, in both games, he has played very well. It’s a shame he couldn’t get the wickets in his name. It’s everyone’s job to make sure whoever plays needs to get the job done for the team. It’s not about one or two individuals.
“When we saw it [Reddy] “For the first time we saw that there is a lot of potential, that’s why he came here in the first place,” Rohit said. “And he came and showed here what he’s capable of.” You know, he was brilliant with the bat.
“He understood the situation pretty well, he read the situation pretty well. And he also has solid technique. And an excellent mind, not to be forgotten.”
“Right now it’s very difficult to say the growth part because it’s only been four Test matches for him, but I hope he plays long enough for India in all his forms.”
Alagappan Muthu is Deputy Editor of ESPNcricinfo
