AB de Villiers believes India’s decision to use Jasprit Bumrah selectively in the Asia Cup is a smart move, ensuring the star pacer remains fresh and impactful for the games that matter most.
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Bumrah’s Role in the Asia Cup
After having his minutes managed during the England tour—where he played only three of the five matches—Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion in India’s Asia Cup squad this month in the UAE came as a surprise to many. While he remains one of the greatest T20 players, India’s depth meant they still had reliable alternatives.
However, AB de Villiers believes this combination of depth and Jasprit Bumrah’s match-winning ability could be a major advantage. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the South African great suggested that Bumrah will likely be used selectively against stronger opponents in the tournament.
“Great to see him in the squad, fit and ready to go. I don’t 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,” de Villiers said, praising Ajit Agarkar and his panel. “That’s how you should be managing your senior and most impactful players.”
De Villiers expects to see Jasprit Bumrah back to his best
AB de Villiers highlighted that India’s cautious handling of Jasprit Bumrah is exactly the kind of long-term planning required, particularly as players move past the age of 30. He noted that Bumrah’s workload has to be carefully balanced after the pacer was forced to miss the Champions Trophy earlier this year due to an injury sustained in Australia, where many believed he was overworked during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“It’s not like they are picking and choosing. There’s just so much cricket these days that older players have already put their bodies through a lot,” de Villiers explained. “Some selectors understand it and some don’t. But once you start managing players this way, you get the best out of them, and I love that they’ve started doing this with Jasprit Bumrah.”
Bumrah may not have been at his absolute best in England—though his high standards set a lofty benchmark—but India could benefit more from using him as a specialist strike bowler in the latter stages of the Asia Cup, particularly against stronger opponents. With additional options like Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Hardik Pandya available, captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir still have significant depth to rotate and protect their premier fast bowler.
