For the Indian cricket team, the Test series in England is always like a litmus test, especially when you have lost the first match and have to make a comeback in the next match. In such a situation, resting your most trusted fast bowler can upset everyone. Before the Birmingham Test, the speculations about Jasprit Bumrah were clearly stopped by captain Shubman Gill. He said just two words - "No Bumrah." This decision sparked a debate among former players.
Captain, Shubman Gill had said that the team management decided that Bumrah should not play in the second Test. The team had earlier announced his availability, but then kept him out, citing workload management. This decision not only angered the fans but also surprised former captains like Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.
Former India Head Coach, Shastri, clearly said that resting Bumrah in such an important Test is incomprehensible. According to him, this match could have been decisive for Team India in the series. He indicated that it is not right to leave such a big decision to the player's will.
“This is a very important match, they’ve had a week off. I’m a 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 who 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,” Ravi Shastri said, slamming India’s decision to rest Bumrah in the IND vs ENG Edgbaston Test.
“Baffling. If you are bowling first, you need him more than anyone else. You are keeping him for Lord’s,” Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.
The captain and coaching staff should decide who should come onto the field. At the same time, Gavaskar also said that when you are bowling first, why should your biggest weapon stay out of the field? He also reminded that India have faced defeat against New Zealand and Australia in recent Test series. In such a situation, it was very important to win this Test.
“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 side, in the world, and you make him sit out after seven days of rest, it’s something very hard to believe,” Ravi Shastri added, dismissing the workload management claims.
We think the team management should have reconsidered this decision. An experienced bowler like Bumrah not only takes wickets but also maintains mental pressure on the opposition team. The players had already had eight days of rest. If the player was feeling a little tired, he could have been asked to bowl a few overs less, but his presence on the field was necessary.
His experience and aggression would also give direction to the players bowling from the other end. Every opportunity matters in Test cricket, and it becomes even more important after falling behind in the series. We think Shubman Gill should have shown a tough stand as a captain.
Such decisions harm the team in the long run. Workload management may be true, but implementing it at the right time is equally important. If India had won this match, the momentum would have changed. Now there is double pressure on the team. No one can ignore the fact that the team weakened themselves by resting a player like Bumrah. Next time in such a situation, India should avoid such decisions so that the chances of victory remain strong.
