AB de Villiers criticizes India over Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management

South African former skipper AB de Villiers has criticized India for mismanaging Jasprit Bumrah. Highlighting the importance of Test cricket, De Villiers said that India should have prepared Bumrah to play all five Tests of the ongoing England series.

 
"He is probably the top bowler in the world in all formats right now. So, it's very difficult to decide on a way to rest him," De Villiers said on his Youtube channel. 

"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."

The South African cricketer also revealed how his team would prepare Dale Steyn for big Test series against Australia, England, and India away from home. 

"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.

"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.

Before the start of the Test series against England, head coach Gautam Gambhir mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah would only play three out of five Tests, keeping in mind his workload management. 

How did Bumrah fare in the first Test? 

In the absence of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah is a vital cog in India’s bowling attack in the ongoing Test series vs England. Bumrah was the only bowler who posed consistent threat in the first Test against England. He picked a five-wicket haul in England’s first inning, returning with figures of 5/83. However, he couldn't replicate a similar performance in the second innings when England were set a target of 371. 

India's bowling led by Bumrah failed to pick early wickets as openers piled up massive 188-run partnership. England went on to chase down the target with five wickets in hand. Jasprit Bumrah bowled 19 overs but couldn't pick a wicket.  

Meanwhile, his partners, Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna have faced flak for inconsistent bowling. Bumrah is unlikely to play the next game and it has brought more tension in India camp. It will be interesting to see what will be India’s bowling combination for the second Test, scheduled to start on Wednesday.