Former South African batting star AB de Villiers has weighed in on Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion in India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, suggesting the fast bowler may not play every game due to workload management. De Villiers' comments come amidst scrutiny surrounding Bumrah's workload, with some critics questioning the need to protect him so carefully.
Bumrah's recent appearances have been limited, playing only three of the five Test matches against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. This sparked debate about whether the selectors were being overly cautious with the pacer. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar has defended the strategy, emphasizing the importance of ensuring Bumrah's availability for major tournaments like the World Cups and Champions Trophy.
De Villiers has supported this "proactive" approach from the selectors. Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers stated that it was good to see Bumrah "fit and ready to go". He lauded the selectors for managing Bumrah's workload effectively, acknowledging the physical toll that constant cricket can take on players. "I do not think he will play all the games. I saw reports saying he will be earmarked for the games that matter, and I love that about the selectors being proactive. That is how you should be managing your senior and most impactful players," he said. He also clarified that Bumrah is not simply "picking and choosing" games, but rather being managed carefully to prolong his career and maximize his impact.
Agarkar echoed this sentiment, stating that there isn't a "written plan" for Bumrah's workload but that the team management, physios, and other concerned parties are constantly in touch to monitor his condition. "Clearly, we want him available for all the big games," Agarkar said. "I know in international cricket, every game is a big game. But there are World Cups, there is Champion Trophy or big series like England or Australia. We want him available all the time". He also highlighted the extra attention Bumrah receives due to his unique talent and injury history, assuring that this approach "won't change".
Bumrah's inclusion in the Asia Cup squad marks his first T20I appearance since the T20 World Cup final last year. India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, and will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10. While there were speculations he might miss the Asia Cup to stay fresh for the home Test series against West Indies in October, Bumrah himself confirmed his availability.
De Villiers also praised Kuldeep Yadav's skills. India's squad for the Asia Cup 2025 includes Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh. Reserves include Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
