‘I don’t know who made the decision’ – Subramaniam Badrinath questions Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management and CoE scrutiny

Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of India’s Test tour of Sri Lanka due to a knee injury sustained while fielding during an ODI against England in Cardiff in July. The two-match series, part of the World Test Championship, commences on August 15 in Galle. Bumrah’s absence marks another setback after he made his ODI comeback following approximately two years away from the format, featuring in two matches before knee discomfort forced him out of the final game.

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has weighed in on the decision-making process surrounding Bumrah’s fitness and selection, addressing questions about the Centre of Excellence’s role in determining squad composition. Badrinath clarified the distinction between the CoE’s function and the actual selection authority, emphasizing that the final call rests with the captain, coach and selectors rather than the medical facility.

“I don’t know who made the decision. COE will not make the selection, right? They will just say he is in this state and can play these matches and his body is in this state. But I think the captain, coach, and selectors are taking the decision. COE only passes the information. They are not selectors,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.

Who decides player selection when injuries occur?

Bumrah underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru following his injury. Uncapped quick Auqib Nabi has been named as his replacement for the tour. The injury comes at a significant moment, as the series carries weight in India’s race to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval next year.

India’s injury concerns extend beyond Bumrah. Sai Sudharsan is sidelined by a left big toe injury, while Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are managing hamstring issues. Washington Sundar is unavailable due to a quadriceps problem, creating multiple gaps in the squad ahead of the tour.

Different injury types require different assessment

Badrinath cautioned against treating the injury problems as a single issue, noting that different injury types require different assessment and management approaches. The former batter distinguished between acute injuries sustained during play and chronic conditions arising from overuse or individual fitness limitations.

“I don’t have an immediate answer to the root cause of so many injuries. It is important to see what kind of injuries these are. At high-level professional sport, injuries are common. Sai Sudharsan got hit by a ball, with Bumah, it is a chronic injury because of being overused and fitness is not Sundar’s forte, he is injury-prone. His fitness needs a lot of work. Management and monitoring is very important. Injuries are bound to happen and you cannot control it,” said Badrinath.