Daijiworld Media Network – Birmingham

Birmingham, Jul 2: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has strongly criticised the Indian team management’s decision to rest ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Edgbaston, calling it “very hard to believe” and questioning the timing of the move.

With India trailing 0-1 in the five-match Test series against England, Bumrah was left out of the playing eleven due to workload management, with youngster Akash Deep replacing him. Captain Shubman Gill explained at the toss that the team preferred to preserve Bumrah for the Lord’s Test, where conditions are expected to suit his bowling style more.

Shastri, however, disagreed sharply during Sky Sports’ broadcast. “This is a very important match, and they’ve had a week off. I’m a little surprised Bumrah is not playing this game. It should be taken out of the player's hands. This is the important game where you’ve got to counterpunch almost straightaway,” he said.

He added that if India had levelled the series at Edgbaston, Bumrah could have then considered resting at Lord’s—but argued that no player would want to sit out after a series-leveling win. “You’ve lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia, and the first Test here. You want to get back to winning ways. You have the best fast bowler in the world and you make him sit out after seven days of rest—it’s something very hard to believe.”

Former England pacer Stuart Broad echoed Shastri’s concerns, saying, “A week is a very good time off for a fast bowler. Bumrah’s omission does surprise me. What also surprised me was him saying before the series he will only play three of the five Tests. You keep those cards close to your chest.”

India made additional changes with Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy coming in for B Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur, boosting the batting depth. However, Bumrah’s absence has left a noticeable void in the bowling attack as India seek to bounce back in the series.