India's handling of Jasprit Bumrah during the ongoing Test series against England has raised questions. Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers weighed in on the issue as he drew a comparison with the South African team of his time, which consisted of legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn.
With Bumrah set to feature in only three of the five Tests due to workload management, De Villiers has questioned whether this approach is ideal for such a crucial contest. India's cautious planning comes in light of Bumrah's history with injuries.
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Why does AB de Villiers want Jasprit Bumrah to play all five Tests against England?
AB de Villiers claimed that Test cricket should be the top priority for any cricketer, especially someone of Bumrah's calibre.
He cited South Africa's example and how they used to manage Dale Steyn in his prime: resting him during limited-overs games to ensure he was fully fit for major Test series.
"He is probably the top bowler in the world in all formats right now. This Test series probably would've been the one to get him ready for all five Test matches. That's what we used to do with Dale - rest him in T20s and ODIs and have him 100% for the big Test series," said De Villiers.
De Villiers admitted there could be more behind the scenes, such as medical advice or caution following Bumrah's recent return from injury. But he still questioned whether the management got the timing right.
"If it's workload management, I don't know if they've gone about it the right way. This is a huge five-Test series - only the WTC final is bigger," he added.
As the series progresses, India will hope their careful strategy pays off. But if they fall short, especially in games without Bumrah, questions over their decision to limit his appearances will only grow louder.