During the second Test at Edgbaston, Jasprit Bumrah was seen in the Indian dugout wearing a radio earpiece, which caught the attention of commentator Ravi Shastri. Shastri couldn't resist making an on-air remark, suggesting the positive impact Bumrah would have if he were on the field with so many runs on the board. He humorously added, "He's listening. England wouldn't have been happy".

This observation occurred while India was searching for a breakthrough against a strong partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. India had posted a formidable 587 in their first innings. Eventually, India bowled England out for 407, securing a significant first-innings lead of 180 runs, with Mohammed Siraj leading the attack with 6/70.

Bumrah's absence from the second Test, ostensibly to manage his workload, had already drawn criticism from several cricket experts, including Shastri. Shastri expressed his disbelief at the decision to rest Bumrah, especially given the importance of the match. He argued that Bumrah, being the "best fast bowler in the world," should not have been given the option to sit out such a crucial game after only a week of rest.

Shastri emphasized the significance of the Test, considering India's recent struggles in Test cricket, with only one win in their last nine matches. He felt that the decision to rest Bumrah should not have been left to the player but should have been made by the captain and head coach. Shastri said that resting Bumrah sends the wrong message and that the team needs to win this game to level the series.

Before the series, the Indian team management had indicated that Bumrah would play a maximum of three Tests due to workload concerns. However, Shastri questioned this strategy, suggesting that Bumrah should have played the Edgbaston Test and then been given the option to rest at Lord's if needed. He said that winning the current test should be prioritized and Bumrah's presence was crucial for that.

The decision to rest Bumrah was one of three changes made by the Indian team for the second Test. While the team management's rationale was workload management, Shastri and others felt that Bumrah's skills and experience were essential for India to regain momentum in the series.