'Resting alone is not workload management' - Aakash Chopra on Gurnoor Brar playing all formats

Gurnoor Brar, the 26-year-old right-arm fast bowler, made his ODI debut on June 13, 2026, against Afghanistan and took 7 wickets in that series. However, the pacer has not yet represented India in Tests and has not played a T20I, having picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.96 in six ODIs so far. During the recently concluded two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which India won 1-0, Brar did not feature in either game, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna preferred as the two seamers.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned the approach of reserving Brar only for Tests, citing the sporadic nature of Test cricket. Chopra noted that the Test series ended in August and the next one is scheduled for November, followed by another in January. Chopra expressed his views on the young bowler's selection and workload management strategy.

Chopra examined the gaps between Test assignments and their impact on a young bowler's development and opportunity. He raised concerns about whether restricting Brar to only Tests would serve the player's long-term interests given the infrequent nature of Test cricket in the international calendar. The former India cricketer also considered the upcoming ODI World Cup and the need for pace bowlers in that tournament.

"It's a good thought, but is it the right thought? That question will definitely be there because Test cricket happens very sporadically. A series ended just now in August, and then you will see a Test series in November. After that, you will get to see the next Test series in January end," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"It happens so sporadically that you say whether you will play him this only. How would it work out if you are going to play him this only? It's also on your mind that the ODI World Cup is approaching. We might need pace and bounce in the ODI World Cup in South Africa. Gurnoor Brar is a bowler who has just started," he added.

Chopra advocated for exposing Brar to multiple formats to accelerate his development and assess his capabilities across different conditions. The former cricketer emphasised that a young bowler needs consistent opportunities to build experience and understand how he responds to varying match situations. This approach, according to Chopra, would better prepare Brar for major tournaments and international competition.

"If someone has just started, you also want to give him a lot of opportunities, that he should play ODIs and T20Is as well, in different conditions and situations, because you don't know how he would perform and respond. These are little, little tests you want to keep taking consistently, just to know that by the time the World Cup comes, our man is ready," Chopra said.

Redefining workload management beyond rest

Chopra acknowledged the traditional argument for restricting young bowlers to Tests, which centres on longevity and injury prevention. However, he challenged the conventional understanding of workload management, arguing that the concept extends beyond simply resting players. According to Chopra, active participation and building stamina through regular bowling are equally important components of managing a young bowler's development.

"You have to look at it from many perspectives. The tempting option is to play only Tests so that he plays for a long time and will be more consistent and reliable and won't get injured. However, I believe that if you are young, workload management is not only about not playing someone," Chopra said.

"Workload management is also about playing someone. You need to just keep bowling the overs. Just build up the stamina. You have to do that job as well. Many times, we feel that not playing someone and resting them is workload management. Resting alone is not workload management. I feel he should be allowed to play. Manage him slightly, but play him in all formats," he added.