Former India head coach Ravi Shastri minced no words while criticising the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Shastri, speaking live on Sky Sports, called the move “baffling” and held both India captain Shubman Gill and current head coach Gautam Gambhir responsible.
“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,” Shastri said, visibly stunned.
India entered the Edgbaston Test trailing 0-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and the decision to rest Bumrah—despite him being fully fit—drew instant backlash. Shastri, part of the commentary panel alongside Michael Atherton, was firm in his opinion that a must-win game warranted India’s best bowler to be in the playing XI.
“Very strange and baffling. If he’s fit, he should play. No ifs and buts,” he stated.
Workload or a tactical miss?
Captain Shubman Gill had clarified at the toss that Bumrah was available but was being managed for workload reasons, with an eye on the upcoming third Test at Lord’s. Bumrah had earlier committed to playing only three out of the five Tests due to past injury concerns.
“This is an important match, but we’re looking at the Lord’s Test where the pitch might offer more,” Gill had said.
However, Shastri remained unconvinced.
“This is where the captain and head coach must step in. This isn’t just another game—India are trying to stay alive in the series. You need your best fast bowler.”
Shastri’s sharp reaction comes amid mounting pressure on the team after the Headingley defeat and growing scrutiny over the decision-making of India’s new leadership duo, Gill and Gambhir.
India’s management has stuck by its rotation policy to preserve Bumrah’s long-term fitness, but the backlash from fans and former players suggests the gamble could backfire—especially if India fails to level the series at Edgbaston.
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