De Villiers Urges India to Prioritize Bumrah’s Workload Like South Africa Did with Steyn

South African cricket icon AB de Villiers has advised the Indian cricket team to tread carefully with Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, drawing parallels with how his former team managed pace great Dale Steyn’s career. As Bumrah continues to dominate with the ball, concerns over his long-term fitness have sparked fresh debate over how much cricket India’s premier fast bowler should be playing.

Bumrah’s recent form has been nothing short of spectacular. In the past two years, he has claimed 77 Test wickets from 28 innings at a stunning average of 15.09. Even during India’s 3-1 series loss in Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, Bumrah stood head and shoulders above the rest with 32 wickets in nine innings, earning plaudits as the standout performer of the series.

His influence extended into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, where he played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians’ revival. Returning after the team’s initial four losses, Bumrah’s presence inspired a turnaround as the franchise won six consecutive games and reached the playoffs. He ended the tournament with 18 wickets from 12 matches at an average of 17 and an economy rate of just 6.67.

But his brilliance has come at a physical cost. A stress-related back injury ruled him out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year and now casts a shadow over his participation in the ongoing Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy against England. While Bumrah played the first Test at Headingley—taking 5 for 83 in the first innings—he bowled sparingly in the second as India lost by five wickets.

De Villiers, speaking on the situation, emphasized the importance of prioritizing Bumrah’s Test career. “Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game. 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,” he said.

The suggestion comes amid speculation that India might not play Bumrah in all five Tests against England, especially with Shubman Gill recently taking over as captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Bumrah did, however, attend an optional training session ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston starting July 2, indicating his potential availability.

With his fitness hanging in the balance, India faces a delicate challenge: safeguarding Bumrah’s future while maximizing his impact in their most crucial contests.