Cricket
IND vs ENG: AB de Villiers Slams ‘Mismanagement’ Over Jasprit Bumrah’s Limited Role in England Series
Ray Sportz Web Desk: In a sharp critique, former South African captain AB de Villiers has slammed the Indian team management for restricting ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to just three Tests in the ongoing five-match series against England. Calling it “mismanagement,” de Villiers expressed surprise that India would not deploy their premier fast bowler in a high-stakes series of this magnitude.
“It doesn’t get bigger than this,” said de Villiers, stressing that Bumrah should be playing every Test unless sidelined by injury. He drew comparisons to how South Africa managed Dale Steyn—resting him in white-ball formats to ensure peak performance in Tests.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, however, defended the decision, stating it was a planned move based on medical advice and long-term workload management. Despite India’s defeat in the first Test, Gambhir confirmed Bumrah would stick to the original plan of playing only three matches.
The decision has sparked a broader debate on balancing player fitness with competitive priorities, especially in crucial international series.