India is touring England, which is one of the hardest places for them to win a Test series. Many people are surprised that Jasprit Bumrah, considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world, will only play in three out of the five matches. This is especially puzzling because he played almost the entire IPL season for the Mumbai Indians.
AB de Villiers slammed the BCCI for restricting Jasprit Bumrah
Despite his importance, Jasprit Bumrah has only been picked for three Tests. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has already confirmed this decision, leaving many to question why less important matches weren’t dropped from Bumrah’s schedule instead, to help manage his workload.
“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,”
“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.”
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, who had to manage fast bowler Dale Steyn’s workload during his playing days, doesn’t agree with the Indian team management’s decision to play Jasprit Bumrah in only three out of the five Tests on the England tour.
AB de Villiers gave Dale Steyn’s example to highlight the ‘Mismanagement’ Of the Indian Team
Referring to Dale Steyn’s example, AB de Villiers said that Jasprit Bumrah should ideally be rested from less important T20Is and ODIs matches, rather than key Test matches.
“That’s what we used to do with Dale (Steyn). 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… New Zealand to a certain extent, depending on the rankings at that time,” he explained.
The former South African captain, AB de Villiers even used the word “mismanagement” while criticizing the Indian team’s decision. He questioned what led them to make such a call regarding Bumrah’s limited participation in the Test series.
“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 said.
“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, and at the end of the day, it’s up to Team India to sort of manage him well,” he added.
“It doesn’t get bigger than that, guys, except for maybe the WTC final.”
ALSO READ: “Lionel Messi Playing With Statue…” – Zlatan Ibrahimovic Slammed Inter Miami
