Birmingham – Former India head coach Ravi Shastri minced no words as he publicly criticized captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir for leaving Jasprit Bumrah out of the second Test against England at Edgbaston. The fiery commentary came after India, already trailing 0-1 in the series, chose to rest their premier fast bowler despite a week-long break between matches.
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Ravi Shastri on the impact of Jasprit Bumrah missing the second Test 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/df2Y7sXWDA
“You have the best fast bowler in the world and you make him sit out after seven days of rest. That is something very hard to believe,” said Shastri on Sky Sports, visibly frustrated.
“Baffling Decision” – Shastri Speaks Out On Live Broadcast
Speaking alongside former England captain Michael Atherton, who also found the move “very strange,” Shastri slammed the Indian team’s leadership:
“Very strange and baffling as far as I’m concerned. If he’s fit to play, he should play.”
“This is a must-win game for India. You need your premier fast bowler playing. No ifs and buts — he should have been playing.”
Shastri emphasized that such critical selection calls should be left solely to the captain and the head coach, not an extended coaching group.
Shubman Gill and Gambhir Back Workload Management
A day before the match, captain Shubman Gill stated that while Bumrah was fit, the team preferred to rest him for strategic and workload reasons, especially with the Lord’s Test ahead.
“We thought we’d bring him better now,” Gill said at the toss. “The third match of the series might have more for the bowlers.”
Despite the backlash, Gautam Gambhir backed the decision, stating that Bumrah’s long-term fitness and recovery post-injury were being prioritized — the same reason cited earlier for not naming him India’s new Test captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.
Background: Bumrah’s Limited Availability Was Known
Before the series began, Bumrah had reportedly communicated that he would be available for only three of the five Tests, due to medical advice following his return from a prolonged injury layoff.
But Shastri argued that with India already down in the series, the second match should have been non-negotiable for Bumrah’s inclusion.
Cricketing Community Divided
While some experts agree with India’s cautious approach considering Bumrah’s injury history, others side with Shastri, believing a must-win match requires putting the best XI on the field, especially when the bowler is fully fit.
With the third Test at Lord’s looming, all eyes will be on whether Bumrah returns — and whether the team’s strategic gamble pays off.