Former South African captain AB de Villiers has weighed in on India's workload management of premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during the ongoing five-match Test series against England, suggesting there may have been some "mismanagement" in the decision-making.
Bumrah, considered by many as the best bowler across all formats, is slated to play only three of the five Tests, a decision that has raised eyebrows, especially after India's defeat in the series opener. De Villiers believes Bumrah should have been prepared to play all five matches, given the importance of the series.
"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," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. He emphasized the significance of Test cricket, particularly in high-profile series like the one between India and England, stating, "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".
De Villiers drew a parallel with how South Africa managed the workload of their legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn. "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. He implied that India might have missed a trick by not following a similar approach with Bumrah.
The decision to potentially rest Bumrah for the second Test at Edgbaston, a ground known to favor fast bowlers, has further fueled the debate. While de Villiers acknowledged the possibility of unseen factors influencing the decision, such as medical advice or concerns arising from Bumrah's recent return from injury, he didn't completely dismiss the possibility of mismanagement. "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".
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended the rotation plan, citing the need to manage Bumrah's workload. However, de Villiers' remarks have added weight to the concerns surrounding India's over-reliance on Bumrah, especially after their defeat in the first Test where Bumrah's five-wicket haul went in vain due to a lack of support from the other bowlers.
De Villiers concluded by highlighting the importance of the series, stating, "It doesn't get bigger than that, guys, except for maybe the WTC final". He suggested that despite the confirmed plan, India might surprise everyone by playing Bumrah in all five Tests, especially after losing the first match. He also pointed out that this situation could provide an opportunity for a player like Arshdeep Singh to step up.
The debate around Bumrah's workload management underscores his vital role in India's success, particularly in Test cricket. It remains to be seen whether India will stick to their original plan or reassess Bumrah's availability as the series progresses.
