Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has praised Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion in India’s squad for the 2025 Asia Cup but feels the star pacer may not feature in every match.
De Villiers backed the idea of selective appearances for Bumrah, highlighting that smart workload management is essential to extract the best out of senior players.
“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 ones that matter, and I love that about the selectors being proactive,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
Why Bumrah Could Miss Some Matches
The BCCI has not confirmed any plan to rest Bumrah. However, the management did rotate him during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy earlier this year, where he was rested for two of the five Tests against England.
With the Asia Cup being in T20 format, Bumrah would only bowl four overs per match, but de Villiers suggested that resting him in less challenging fixtures — such as group-stage matches against Oman and UAE — would be logical. In those games, Harshit Rana could pair with Arshdeep Singh in the pace attack.
India could play up to seven matches in the tournament: three group games, three Super-Four matches, and a final if they qualify.
AB de Villiers on Selectors’ Role
De Villiers applauded India’s selectors for recognizing the physical toll on senior players.
“There’s so much cricket these days. For older guys, over 30, the workload adds up. Some selectors understand it, some don’t. Managing these players ensures you get the best out of them. I love that they’ve started doing this with Jasprit Bumrah.”
Praise for Kuldeep Yadav
De Villiers also reserved special praise for left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, calling him one of India’s most dangerous bowlers.
“Kuldeep is skilled and very bold. He gives the ball a lot of flight and isn’t afraid to challenge batters. He’s quick on his feet, has great hand-eye coordination, and thinks ahead of the batter. He’s not just a bowler; he’s a complete cricketer,” the Proteas legend said.
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