The decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah, India's pace spearhead, for the second Test against England at Edgbaston has sparked widespread debate and criticism. With India trailing 1-0 in the five-match series after a loss in the first Test at Headingley, the omission of the world's number one ranked Test bowler has been met with bafflement from former players and coaches.
Kumar Sangakkara has joined the chorus of disapproval, accusing Gautam Gambhir, the Indian coach, of carrying "baggage" regarding the decision. Sangakkara questioned the rationale behind prioritizing the third Test at Lord's over the crucial match at Edgbaston, especially with India already on the back foot in the series. He implied that focusing solely on Lord's might be a strategic misstep, asking whether "Lord's Test [is] more important or the series?".
Shubman Gill, India's captain, explained at the toss that Bumrah was rested to manage his workload, with the belief that the Lord's pitch would offer more favorable conditions for the seamer. Gill stated that Bumrah would play only three of the five Tests, a decision made in consultation with the BCCI medical team due to Bumrah's ongoing back problems. He added, "Just to manage his workload. We did get a good break and this is an important match for us. But the third Test being at Lord's, we think there'll be more in that pitch so we'll use him there". Akash Deep replaced Bumrah in the playing eleven, forming part of three changes to the Indian lineup.
However, this explanation has failed to satisfy many, including former India coach Ravi Shastri, who expressed his astonishment at the decision. Shastri argued that India's recent poor form in Test cricket, with only one win in their last nine matches, made the Edgbaston Test a must-win encounter. He emphasized the importance of playing the best possible team, especially after losing three consecutive series against New Zealand and Australia, as well as the first Test against England.
Shastri stated on Sky Sports, "This is a very important match, they've had a week off. I'm little surprised Bumrah is not playing this game. 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 the 11. This is an important game in the context of the series, he should be playing this game more than anything else". He further added, "Lord's can come later. This is the important game where you got to counter punch almost straightaway. Play this one. Make it 1-1 and then give him the option: you want to rest at Lord's, rest at Lord's. You think he'll rest at Lord's? No chance if you win this".
Former Australian cricketer and coach Tom Moody described the decision to rest Bumrah as "baffling". He also questioned the selection of multiple all-rounders to compensate for batting depth, suggesting that it could backfire. Former England skipper Nasser Hussain pointed out that India's strong performance at Headingley, where they scored five centuries, was undermined by poor catching.
Dale Steyn, the former South Africa fast bowler, also criticized the team management for leaving out Bumrah, comparing it to Portugal resting Cristiano Ronaldo. Steyn highlighted Bumrah's five-wicket haul in the first innings of the opening Test and questioned the logic of resting him for the second game.
The decision to rest Bumrah underscores the challenges of workload management in modern cricket, especially for players with a history of injuries. However, with India facing a crucial Test match and the series already at stake, many believe that prioritizing the present over potential future gains is a risky gamble. The outcome of the Edgbaston Test will likely determine whether the decision to rest Bumrah is viewed as a strategic masterstroke or a costly error in judgment.
