'No ifs and buts. He should have played': Shastri blasts Gill-Gambhir for resting Bumrah in must-win game

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has criticised the Indian team management’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Shastri called it a “baffling” move in a must-win match.

Speaking on-air with former England cricketer Michael Atherton ahead of the match, Shastri was surprised by the call to leave out India’s pace spearhead despite Bumrah being declared fit and available.

Shastri slams captain and coach for Bumrah’s absence

Shastri pointed fingers at captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir for allowing Bumrah to miss out despite him being fit and ready to play. Gill had said a day before the match that Bumrah is available for selection.

Michael Atherton: Yes, the big news of the morning, not just the toss and Stokes’ decision again to bowl first, but the fact that India have gone without Jasprit Bumrah a week in between games, a must win game or a game that India cannot afford to lose. And despite the fact that we heard yesterday from the captain that Bumrah is available and fit to play, they haven’t picked him. It seems a very strange decision to me.

Ravi Shastri: Very strange, baffling as far as I’m concerned. If he’s fit to play, he should play. That decision should be entirely in the hands of the captain and head coach. Like you mentioned, a week between test matches, this is an important test match, a must win game for India. If they have to stay alive in the series, then you need your premier fast bowler playing. And no ifs and buts, he should have been playing.

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England won the toss and opted to bowl again, but the bigger talking point was India’s team selection. They made three changes, bringing in Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep, but leaving Bumrah out.

Gill said at the toss that they are looking to play Bumrah in the next match at Lord’s, where conditions are expected to be more favourable for him. India are 0-1 down in the five-match series, and the 2nd Test at Edgbaston is a crucial one for them. Resting Bumrah in such an important contest is not sitting well with fans and experts.