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With India’s five-match Test series against England concluding in a draw with the visiting side securing a win in the second and fifth Test and the first and third Test going in favour of the hosts, while the fourth Test ended in a draw. With England needing only 35 runs on the final day at The Oval and India eyeing to get the remaining four wickets, the latter was achieved first, helping them secure a thrilling six-run win.
However, celebrations began soon after Mohammed Siraj cleaned up Gus Atkinson to restrict England at 367, there were only praise and praise for the Indian bowler. Amidst this, former India cricketer and legend Sunil Gavaskar was quick to get workload management theory in between, while citing examples of Siraj, Rishabh Pant along with the Indian Army.
Do you think the jawans complain about the cold?: Sunil Gavaskar on workload management
Speaking with India Today, Gavaskar hit back at the idea of workload management as he said, "Mohammed Siraj debunked forever this business of workload. I hope that the workload word gets taken out of Indian cricket dictionary. For 5 Test matches, non-stop he has bowled 7-8 over spells, because the captain wanted him and the country expected of him." "And that is one thing I think people keep in mind that workload is a mental thing, not a physical thing and if you are going to succumb to people who are talking about workload then you are never going to have your best players on the field for your country," he further added.
The legend of the game further went ahead citing, “When you are playing for your country, forget the aches and the pains. On the border, do you think that the jawans are complaining about cold? What did Rishabh Pant show you? He came out to bat with a fracture. That is what you expect from the players. Playing cricket in India is an honour.”
Speaking of Md Siraj, he finished as the top wicket-taker with 23 scalps, at an average of 32.43 and a strike rate of 48.39 with his best bowling innings coming in the first innings of the second Test, where he registered figures of 6/70 in his 19.3 over spell. Rishabh Pant also played four Tests and was ruled out of the fifth Test with a fractured foot.
