Jasprit Bumrah is a legend. He knows his workload and how to manage it: Suresh Raina

Former Indian batter and analyst Suresh Raina has opened up on the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s workload controversy in the ongoing five-match Test series against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

While India is trailing the series by 1-2 with two more games to go, Raina asserted that one should leave the decision of playing on Bumrah as he knows his body well, and eventually, he has to follow his medical team’s advice.

While Bumrah played the opening Test in Leeds, scalping his 12th fifer away from home, which India lost by five wickets, he missed out on the Birmingham Test, which India won by 336 runs. Later, he made his comeback in the Lord’s Test, pocketing his 13th fifer away from home in the longest format of the game, though India suffered a narrow 22-run loss.

“I think it is a doctor’s call to be honest. I know my body. I know my doctor. I know what guidelines he is giving me, how to play the game. So I think with Bumrah, I think he is a legend. I think he knows his workload, how to manage himself, and look at his performance at Lord’s, he registered his place in the Lord’s Honours Board,” Raina told ANI.

Furthermore, Raina asserted the importance of having both Bumrah and Rishabh Pant in the playing XI, which can turn things up for the visitors. Notably, Pant suffered a finger injury while keeping at Lord’s and he might be available for selection only as a batter for the fourth Test.

“Rishabh Pant had an injury on his finger too. So it is very important for both of them (to play their fourth Test. If they have to draw the series or if they have to try to win the game, then I think it will be very important for both of them to feature in the fourth Test,” Raina added.

Team India has been marred by injuries before moving to the Manchester Test. While Arshdeep Singh has suffered a hand injury in the nets, Akash Deep has been suffering from a back injury. On the other hand, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out with a knee injury.

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