South Africa’s batting maestro AB de Villiers has warned England ahead of the second Test, stating that Jasprit Bumrah could feature in the India playing XI as a surprise.
The second Test between India and Englnad will commence on 2 July at Edgbaston, a venue where India has not won a single match in the previous eight outings.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers heaped high praise on Jasprit Bumrah, stressing his workload management. He suggested that India should outline a plan similar to the one used for managing former Proteas pacer Dale Steyn in the past.
“He is probably the top bowler in the world in all formats right now. So, it’s very difficult to decide a way to rest him, but in my opinion, Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game,” he said.
“And this Test series probably would’ve been the one, in my opinion, to get him ready for all five Test matches. 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,” AB de Villiers added.
He also lamented on Jasprit Bumrah not playing all test matches but warned England that India might use the right-arm pacer as a surprise weapon for the remainder of the series.
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“It’s unfortunate that with an inexperienced bowling attack that he’s not gonna play all the Test matches, so at least that’s how it seems to have been communicated in the media.”
“Maybe it’s all part of the surprise, saying, ‘We are thinking of resting Bumrah,’ but then he ends up playing all five Test matches as a surprise. I think being 1-0 down, that’s hopefully the surprise for Team India, ” Ab de Villiers stated while highlighting Bumrah’s workload management.
For context, before the five-match Test series against England, the Indian team management outlined a workload management plan for Jasprit Bumrah, allowing him to feature in only three Test matches.
The precautionary major was taken in light of Bumrah’s back surgery after the Border-Gavaskar series.
READ: Gautam Gambhir clears the air on Bumrah’s participation in remaining England Tests