Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has publicly criticized the decision made by captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir to rest premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test match against England. The match, which began on Wednesday at Edgbaston, saw India making three changes to their playing XI, with Bumrah's absence being the most debated. Shastri voiced his disapproval during a live television broadcast, questioning the logic behind resting the world's top-ranked bowler, especially after India's defeat in the series opener.
Shastri expressed his views, emphasizing the importance of having Bumrah in the lineup, particularly after already trailing in the five-match series. He argued that there should be no debate ("no ifs and buts") about Bumrah's inclusion, highlighting the significant gap between the two Test matches. Shastri's criticism comes in the wake of India's loss in the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Headingley. Despite India leading for most of the match, England successfully chased down a record target, leaving the visitors with a 1-0 deficit.
Shastri didn't hold back his disappointment, suggesting that Gill and Gambhir should have ensured Bumrah played the second Test, given the week-long interval between the games. He implied that resting Bumrah, especially after a defeat, could be a risky move that might jeopardize India's chances of leveling the series. Shubman Gill confirmed the decision to rest Bumrah at the toss, citing workload management as the reason. Gill stated that the team anticipates the conditions at Lord's for the third Test will be more favorable for Bumrah, hence the decision to preserve him. Along with Bumrah, the team also replaced Reddy, Washi and Akash Deep.
Gautam Gambhir had previously stated that Bumrah would only play three of the five Tests to manage his workload. Monty Panesar, the former England spinner, suggested that resting Bumrah for the second Test could benefit India, believing the team's attack would be better suited to Edgbaston conditions. However, this view appears to be in the minority, with most fans and analysts expressing concern over Bumrah's omission.
In the first Test at Headingley, Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, taking 5 wickets for 83 runs in the first innings. However, he went wicketless in the second innings, while the other Indian seamers struggled to make an impact. Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna had combined figures of 9 wickets for 482 runs in 92 overs, highlighting the disparity in performance.
Ravi Shastri has, however, supported Shubman Gill's captaincy in the past. Despite facing criticism after the loss in the first Test, Shastri has backed Gill's leadership abilities, praising his maturity and handling of media interactions. Shastri has also said Gill has the potential to become a significant name in cricket if he learns from experience and adapts to different conditions. Shastri had also previously advised Gill to be more proactive with his captaincy.
The decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah has sparked considerable debate, with Ravi Shastri's strong criticism adding fuel to the fire. Whether this strategic move will pay off for India remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly increased the pressure on Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir as they aim to level the series against England.
