New Delhi: Former South African skipper and IPL great AB de Villiers has criticised the Indian cricket team’s approach to managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, particularly during the ongoing high-stakes Test series against England. According to de Villiers, Bumrah, currently regarded as the world’s top bowler across all formats, should have featured in all five matches rather than being rested for pre-planned games.
“Test cricket is the ultimate format,” de Villiers remarked on his YouTube channel. “And this England series would have been the perfect stage to unleash Bumrah for all five Tests. You don’t rest your best bowler when the stakes are this high.”
De Villiers, who faced Bumrah in the twilight of his career, believes the Indian team should adopt a strategy similar to what South Africa once used with pace spearhead Dale Steyn. “With Dale, we made sure he was always available for the big Test series—against Australia, England, India, and sometimes New Zealand depending on the context. He would skip T20s and less significant ODIs to be fresh for marquee Test matches,” he said.
India is currently in the middle of a tough five-Test series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and Bumrah’s planned absence from two Tests, including the second one at Edgbaston, has sparked intense debate. Given the English conditions that suit his bowling style, many fans and analysts are questioning the rationale behind resting him.
While de Villiers acknowledged that medical advice could have played a role in the decision, he remained critical of how Bumrah’s schedule has been handled. “Maybe the doctors or his surgeon advised against playing all five Tests, especially after his injury layoff,” he said. “If that’s the case, it’s understandable—but from a cricketing standpoint, these are the moments you prepare for.”
The former Proteas captain underlined the importance of managing elite fast bowlers sensibly but also emphasized the significance of marquee series. “It doesn’t get bigger than this—maybe only the World Test Championship final comes close,” he noted.
Bumrah, widely seen as India’s most dependable match-winner with the ball, has had a challenging injury history. He returned to international cricket recently after a prolonged absence and participated in the IPL, which many believe was used as a fitness platform. However, his workload management continues to be a point of contention, especially with India’s Test future and WTC aspirations hanging in the balance.
While de Villiers acknowledged the complexities involved in managing a fast bowler’s fitness, he made it clear that, in his view, India should have gone all-in with Bumrah for the full duration of the England series.
