Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world and arguably Inida’s best cricketer for India across all formats. Managing his workload, though, has proved to be a significant challenge for the Indian men’s cricket team.
As India look to come back in the five-Test series against England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, former South African captain and Indian Premier League (IPL) legend AB de Villiers feels that Bumrah should have been prioritised to play in all five matches, rather than the pre-planned three set by the Indian management.
“He is probably the top bowler in the world in all formats right now. So, it’s very difficult to decide a way to rest him," De Villiers was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
“In my opinion, Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game. This Test series, in particular, would’ve been the one to get him ready for all five matches."
The 40-year-old, who faced Bumrah towards the end of his career, compared the situation to how South Africa managed Dale Steyn, a bowler with a similar pedigree and injury history.
“That’s what we used to do with Dale. Rest him in less important T20 and ODI series and prepare him for the big Test series against Australia, England, and India away from home… New Zealand to some extent, depending on the rankings at that time," he explained.
Jasprit Bumrah’s potential absence in India’s second Test against England at Edgbaston has sparked debate, especially given the importance of the series and the conditions that favour his skills. While De Villiers was uncertain about the nature of the decision, he did not rule out the possibility that it stemmed from medical advice.
“So, I don’t know if it was mismanagement or if it was because he recently returned from injury and saw the IPL as a warmup phase," he said.
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“Maybe, he consulted a surgeon who advised him against playing all five Test matches. You have to respect that, and ultimately, it’s up to Team India to manage him well," he added.
De Villiers added a sharp observation, saying: “It doesn’t get bigger than this, except perhaps the WTC final."
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