AB de Villiers questions handling of Jasprit Bumrah's workload with Steyn's example, flags possible 'mismanagement'

By Admin

30 Jun, 2025

In the high-stakes world of Test cricket, the management of premier bowlers is a delicate balancing act. As India battles England in a crucial five-Test series, a storm is brewing over how fast-bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah’s workload is being handled. One of the most vocal critics of the current approach is none other than former South African captain AB de Villiers.

De Villiers, speaking on his YouTube channel, drew a compelling comparison between Bumrah and South African pace legend Dale Steyn. He pointed out that India’s decision to pre-plan Bumrah’s involvement in only three of the five Tests could be a missed opportunity in a series of this magnitude.

“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,” said De Villiers. “But in my opinion, Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game. And this Test series probably would’ve been the one, in my opinion, to get him ready for all five Test matches.”

Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as India’s spearhead across formats, but injury concerns and tight scheduling have made his workload a pressing issue. His potential absence from the second Test at Edgbaston has stirred fresh debate, especially considering how England’s seaming conditions play right into Bumrah’s strengths.

De Villiers’ viewpoint underscores a larger concern: is India managing its most lethal weapon with the foresight and prudence he deserves?

“That’s what we used to do with Dale (Steyn),” he explained. “Rest him in lesser important T20 and ODI series and get him ready for the big Test series against Australia, England, and India away from home.”

The former Proteas star acknowledged that there might be deeper reasons behind the cautious approach possibly medical advice stemming from Bumrah’s previous injuries.

“So, I don’t know if it was mismanagement or perhaps because he recently got back from injury, sort of saw the IPL as the warmup phase,” he admitted. “Maybe, went to the surgeon, who let him know, ‘You can’t play the five Test matches.’ So, I mean you got to respect that.”

Still, De Villiers left fans and experts with a striking conclusion, one that speaks volumes about how highly this series is regarded.

“It doesn’t get bigger than that, guys, except for maybe the WTC final.”

As Team India looks to balance the demands of winning the series and protecting their star pacer’s long-term fitness, De Villiers’ insights serve as a timely reminder: managing world-class talent isn’t just about rotation it’s about understanding the stakes and making the big calls accordingly.