Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has openly criticised the Indian team management for resting Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing second Test against England at Edgbaston. Despite a full week of rest between matches, Bumrah was left out of the playing XI — a decision that has not gone down well with Shastri.
India made several changes for the Test, but the absence of Bumrah stood out the most. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had earlier stated that Bumrah would play only three Tests in the series, and that the plan would not be altered even after India’s defeat in the first Test at Headingley.
“Very Hard to Believe”: Shastri on Bumrah’s Exclusion
Speaking to Sky Sports, Shastri expressed his disbelief at the decision. “If you look at the run India has had, this becomes a very, very important Test match. You’ve lost 3 against New Zealand, you’ve lost 3 against Australia, you’ve lost the first test match here, and you want to get back to winning ways, and you have the best fast bowler in the side in the world, and you make him sit out after 7 days of rest, you know, it’ssomething very hard to believe,” he said.
He further added, “They’ve had a week off. I’m a little surprised that Bumrah is not playing this game. I think it should be taken out of the player’s hand. It should be the captain and the coaching staff that should decide who should be playing… this is the important game where you’ve got to counter punch almost straight away.”
Shastri also questioned the exclusion of young batter Sai Sudharsan from the XI, despite his promising performance in the previous match. “I’m a little surprised Sai Sudarshan was dropped because he really well. It’s harsh,” Shastri said.
In Bumrah’s absence, fast bowler Akash Deep was included in the XI for the Edgbaston Test.
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