 "Jasprit Bumrah missing a Test match with a green pitch did not go down well with a few fans. Image: Reuters")
Indian management has defended its decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the final Test against England, which began on Thursday at the Oval. Just two days before the must-win match in London, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had informed the media that Bumrah was fit to play in the final match, but the 31-year-old pacer was not included in the final playing XI .
Even India captain Shubman Gill had indicated on the eve of the match that Bumrah was in contention. But as per reports, the management decided with the player and the selectors that it was important to priortise Bumrah’s long-term fitness rather than risking him for short-term gains, leading to him sitting out the Oval Test.
India camp defends Bumrah decision, Gill run-out
After the opening day’s play in the final Test, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defended the decision to rest Bumrah at the ground with a green top and amid overcast conditions.
“It’s quite a complex issue. We want to wheel him out but we also want to respect where his body’s at,” Ten Doeschate said. “He’s bowled a large number of overs. He did say coming into the tour he could only play three games and we felt it was right to honour that call.
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Ten Doeschate added that the Indian team has been outplayed by England’s tactics of not giving a green pitch till Bumrah was available.
“Our thinking was the Oval’s normally a fairly good wicket for batting on, so we thought we’d roll the dice in Manchester. With hindsight we’d love to have him here. Maybe England have got it spot on, leaving the best bowling wicket for the last Test after he’s played three. For a tour of England, you’d expect conditions closer to this than what we’ve seen in the first four Tests,” he said.
England ended Day 1 on 204/6 after Gill suffered an unfortunate run-out following a miscalculation on his part. Batting on 21, Gill looked in great touch amid difficult conditions but gave it away after making an impressive start.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTen Doeschate said the Indian camp doesn’t have any complaints against their captain. “He’s in the touch of his life. Again today he made batting look really easy,” Ten Doeschate said. “But these mistakes do happen, and that’s a misjudgement of a run. Given what he’s done in the first four Tests we’ll let him get away with that one.”