Widely regarded as the best fast bowler in the world across formats, Jasprit Bumrah faced backlash for his workload management during the recently held Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The Indian team management had confirmed before the England tour that star quick would only participate in three of the five Tests.

As it turned out, Bumrah played the first, third and fourth games while he was rested for the second and fifth Tests. Incidentally, India won both the matches he wasn’t a part of.

Bumrah's workload management did not sit well with many. Soon after the series, former cricketers like Sanjay Manjrekar and Irfan Pathan suggested that the ace pacer shouldn't be considered as the first-choice pick in India’s Test team if he can’t give his best, fearing injuries.

Amid the criticism, former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has thrown a radical idea, saying that a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah should skip the Indian Premier League whenever the Indian team is scheduled to play a five-match Test series. At the same time, he feels the bowlers should be adequately compensated by the BCCI.

Citing the example of Cricket Australia, Arun mentioned how they don’t allow premier fast bowlers like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to take part in the IPL or other leagues if an Ashes series is scheduled, because Test cricket is paramount for them.

"Definitely, this would help. Especially when you want to preserve bowlers," Arun said on the latest episode of Bombay Sport Exchange, as quoted by TOI.

"Like, it’s okay for a batter or a spinner to play all formats. But for a fast bowler, yes — playing too much cricket doesn’t give enough time to work on the physical front.

"So yes, this definitely can be looked into. People like Bumrah or any other bowler we feel is very important for a particular series can be rested, and they can also be adequately compensated.

"If he’s properly compensated and then told by the BCCI, because he’s on contract, that we want you to work on this particular aspect of your game, I think that’s fair enough."

Bharat Arun also heaped praise on Mohammad Siraj and called for giving ample rest to the Hyderabad pacer, who was the leading wicket-taker for India during the England Test series.

“Siraj has been there for a while. He has been exceptional. He is captain’s delight. Every time you give him the ball, he runs in and gives 100%. That is what I expect from a fast bowler. He’s got fantastic energy,” Arun stated.

"Looking at this five-Test series, Siraj has maintained the same intensity in the fifth Test as in the first. He needs to be preserved and given sufficient rest before the next series so he can recover fully physically before playing again,” he further remarked.