Ganguly, Gavaskar tear into Gambhir's Team India over playing XI for Edgbaston Test: 'Batting wasn’t your issue'

Legendary Indian Test captains Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar tore into head coach Gautam Gambhir-led Indian cricket team management for picking Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test against England at Edgbaston despite the visitors lacking “penetration in the bowling attack.”

While many expected Kuldeep to come into the playing for the second Test at Edgbaston after a five-wicket loss in the opening game in Headingley, where Indian bowlers struggled to take 20 wickets, Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill sprung a surprise by including all-rounder off-spinner Sundar for seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

Another seam-bowling all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, replaced Sai Sudharsan, while Jasprit Bumrah was rested and replaced by Akash Deep.

Ganguly, Gavaskar criticise India’s team selection

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri was livid with India’s decision to rest Bumrah at a time when they need to make a quick comeback in the five-match series before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Ganguly and Gavaskar lambasted the decision to keep Kuldeep, who is seen as a genuine wicket-taker, on the bench in Bumrah’s absence and India strengthening their batting despite scoring five centuries in the first Test.

“I am not sure whether India are playing their two best spinners. England have fielded first, I am surprised with that. I think this is India’s best possible chance at the moment. Put runs on the board and hopefully it works out,” Ganguly said during the Tea break on Day 1 of the Edgbaston Test.

“I had to great spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in the team. I used to stop the run flow on Day 1 of the Test and the two became dangerous as the match went ahead,” he added.

Also Read | Team India solid on Day 1 but Bumrah’s absence and team balance raise deeper questions

Gavaskar was straightforward in pointing out that India have got their team selection wrong as they needed bowlers who could take wickets instead of trying to balance all the departments.

“I’m baffled that Kuldeep wasn’t picked. Everyone’s saying there’s turn on this pitch. You scored 830 runs across two innings in Leeds. Batting wasn’t your issue. The concern was a lack of penetration in the bowling attack,” Gavaskar said.

Meanwhile, India finished Day 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 310/5 after captain Gill scored an unbeaten 114 . Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 87 and Ravindra Jadeja is still on an unbeaten 41.