Bumrah‘s Asia Cup Inclusion Praised as strategic Move by AB de Villiers
Jasprit Bumrah’s selection for the Asia Cup this month in the UAE came as a bit of a surprise, given India’s bowling depth and available options. Despite being widely regarded as one of the premier T20 bowlers of all time, India possessed other capable players who could have filled the role.
[Image of Jasprit Bumrah during the Asia Cup – sourced from hindustan Times, credited to ANI]
India’s Jasprit Bumrah will be next seen in action during the Asia Cup(ANI)
Though, former South African cricketer AB de Villiers believes India’s depth, combined with Bumrah’s proven performance in crucial matches, could be a notable advantage. Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers predicted Bumrah would be strategically deployed against the tournament’s stronger opponents.
“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 stated, praising the selection commitee led by Ajit Agarkar. “That’s how you should be managing your senior and most impactful players.”
De Villiers also expressed his expectation that Bumrah will return to peak form, highlighting the importance of careful player management, particularly as players age. He noted that Bumrah had previously been sidelined from a major tournament – the Champions Trophy - due to an injury sustained after what some considered overwork during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
“It’s not like they are picking and choosing.So much cricket these days that for your older guys, over age 30, their work has taken its toll over the years,” de Villiers explained. “Some selectors understand it and some don’t. And once you start managing these players, you will get the best out of them and I love it that they’ve started doing that with Jasprit Bumrah.”
While Bumrah appeared slightly below his usual standard in England, de Villiers suggested that rather than pushing him to regain form through consistent play, captain Suryakumar Yadav might find greater benefit in utilizing him as a specialist bowler in the later stages of the tournament, specifically against more challenging teams.India maintains a strong bowling lineup with other frontline options available, including Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Hardik Pandya, providing Gautam Gambhir and Yadav with ample choices.