Follow UsThere was a cloud over Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, as the Indian team management were keen on managing the fast bowler's workload. However, in the lead up to the second Test, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and skipper Shubman Gill had confirmed that Bumrah was fit to play.
However, India chose not to play the speedster in the second Test, which did not go down well with Ravi Shastri, who believes that Bumrah should have played this crucial game if he was fit.
Gill revealed at the toss that the team felt Bumrah would come in handy more at Lord's than at Edgbaston, as the reason behind his non-selection. Shastri, however, was having none of that.
“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 head coach that should decide who should be playing the 11," Shastri said after the toss at Edgbaston.
"This is an important game in the context of the series, he should be playing this game more than anything else. Lord’s can come later. This is the important game where you have 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.
“If you look at the run, India has had, this becomes a very, very important test match. You’ve lost three against New Zealand, you’ve lost three against Australia. You’ve lost the first Test match here and 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."
Bumrah picked up a fifer in the first Test at Headingley, which India eventually lost by five wickets.