Jasprit Bumrah stands as arguably the world’s premier bowler and undeniably India’s top cricketer across all formats. However, effectively managing his extensive workload has presented a considerable challenge for the Indian men’s cricket team.
As India strives to rebound in the five-Test series against England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, former South African captain and IPL icon AB de Villiers believes Bumrah should have been prioritized for all five matches, rather than the three-match plan initially set by the Indian management.
“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 remarked on his YouTube channel. He further emphasized, “In my opinion, Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game. This Test series, in particular, would’ve been the one to get him ready for all five matches.”
The 40-year-old, who encountered Bumrah later in his career, drew a comparison to how South Africa managed Dale Steyn, a bowler of similar caliber with a comparable injury history. “That’s what we used to do with Dale. Rest him in less important T20 and ODI series and prepare him for the big Test series against Australia, England, and India away from home… New Zealand to some extent, depending on the rankings at that time,” De Villiers explained, offering a seasoned perspective on preserving a fast bowler’s longevity and impact in the longest format of the game.
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