Former India Legends Blast Indian Team Management For Jasprit Bumrah's Absence In ENG vs IND 2nd Test

Indian team management's decision to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston didn't go well with former legendary players - Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar.

Shastri and Gavaskar expressed their frustration during the official broadcast, calling it baffling and hard to believe. Overall, India made three changes to their playing XI for the second Test, bringing in Akash Deep for Bumrah, while Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur have been replaced with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar.

The call to rest Bumrah was driven by a long-term plan, with three more Tests to follow. But the criticism revolves around timing. The Shubman Gill-led side is trailing 0-1 in the five-match series. Another loss will leave India on the cusp of yet another series loss.

All matches (32)Afghanistan National T20, 2025Australia tour of West Indies, Test, 2025Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka, 2025ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025India Under 19 tour of England, 2025India tour of England, Test, 2025Indonesia Women tour of Singapore, 2025Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025KCC T20 Challengers B League Edition 3, 2025Major League Cricket, 2025New Zealand A Women tour of England, 2025St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025Tamil Nadu Premier League, 2025

Result- t20- Afghanistan

Afghanistan National T20, 2025

MDS

163/8

PAL

167/7

Pamir Legends beat Maiwand Champions by 3 wickets

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Result- t20- Afghanistan

Afghanistan National T20, 2025

148/6

MPS

144/10

Hindukush Strikers won by 4 wickets

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Upcoming- test- Saint George's

Australia tour of West Indies, Test, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 07:30 PM IST

AUS

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Live- oneday- Colombo

Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka, 2025

244/10

BAN

10/0

Result- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

BSP

142/4

CCYMT

127/5

BCC Spartan beat CC Yullis-MU Trakia by 15 runs

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Result- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

MAR

149/3

SOST

154/2

Sofia Stars beat MUS Akademik Ravens by 8 wickets

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Result- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

CCYMT

120/7

SOST

122/1

Sofia Stars beat CC Yullis-MU Trakia by 9 wickets

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Result- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

CCYMT

119/2

MAR

123/3

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Toss- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

02 Jul 2025, 07:15 PM IST

SOST

BSP

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Upcoming- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 11:15 AM IST

BSAS

SOST

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Upcoming- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 01:15 PM IST

BMP

BSP

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Upcoming- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 03:15 PM IST

BSP

SOST

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Upcoming- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 05:15 PM IST

BMP

BSAS

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Upcoming- t10- Sofia

ECS Bulgaria T10, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 07:15 PM IST

BSP

BSAS

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Live- oneday- United Kingdom

India Under 19 tour of England, 2025

ENGU19

139/2

INDU19

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Live- test- United Kingdom

India tour of England, Test, 2025

ENG

IND

134/2

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Abandoned- t20- Singapore

Indonesia Women tour of Singapore, 2025

SIN-W

31/4

INA-W

Match Abandoned

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Upcoming- t20- Singapore

Indonesia Women tour of Singapore, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 07:00 AM IST

SIN-W

INA-W

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Result- t20- Magheramason

Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025

MUR

170/6

152/1

Northern Knights (Ireland) beat Munster Reds by 72 runs (D/L) method

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Upcoming- t20- Magheramason

Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025

02 Jul 2025, 08:15 PM IST

NWW

LLG

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Upcoming- t20- Magheramason

Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 03:15 PM IST

LLG

MUR

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Upcoming- t20- Magheramason

Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 08:15 PM IST

NWW

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Upcoming- t20- Kuwait City

KCC T20 Challengers B League Edition 3, 2025

02 Jul 2025, 11:00 PM IST

PCR

THUB

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KCC T20 Challengers B League Edition 3, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 10:00 PM IST

LEX

TGS

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Upcoming- t20- Lauderhill

Major League Cricket, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 04:30 AM IST

TSKS

WAF

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Upcoming- t20- Lauderhill

Major League Cricket, 2025

04 Jul 2025, 04:30 AM IST

LAKR

MINY

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New Zealand A Women tour of England, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 07:00 PM IST

ENGA-W

NZA-W

Upcoming- t10- Gros Islet

St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025

02 Jul 2025, 09:30 PM IST

PTS

CBG

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Upcoming- t10- Gros Islet

St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 12:00 AM IST

WTS

AMW

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Upcoming- t10- Gros Islet

St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025

03 Jul 2025, 09:30 PM IST

IYH

CBG

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Upcoming- t10- Gros Islet

St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025

04 Jul 2025, 12:00 AM IST

PTS

AMW

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Toss- t20- Dindigul

Tamil Nadu Premier League, 2025

02 Jul 2025, 07:15 PM IST

DID

TGC

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Ravi Shastri Slams The Decision On Jasprit Bumrah

The former Indian coach was upset to leave out Bumrah for an important match in the series.

"If you look Michael Atherton said at the time of the toss, look at the run India has had, this becomes a very, very important Test match. You lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia, and you lost the first match here. You want to get back to the winning ways. And you have the best fast bowler in the world on your side, and you sit him out after seven days of rest is something hard to believe,"

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%E2%80%94%20Sky%20Sports%20Cricket%20(@SkyCricket)%20July%202,%202025%20" class="trk-cta-link" data-cta-trk=''>said former India head coach Shastri.

Ahead of the first session, he continued to speak about India's selection calls from the commentary box.

"I think it should be taken out of the player's hand: it should be the captain and coaching staff that should decide who should be in the playing XI," he added.

Shastri's remarks come on the back of Bumrah deciding to play only three of the five Tests. Bumrah's decision is driven by workload management due to his recurring back injury. The reappearance during the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 ruled Bumrah out of action for the Champions Trophy 2025 and a few initial matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The right-arm pacer featured in the first Test against England after nearly 20 days' break after the IPL 2025. The speedster bowled 43.4 overs in the Headingley Test and picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings. However, there was a seven-day gap between the two Tests, a good amount of time to recover.

Sunil Gavaskar Agrees With Former Coach

Echoing Shastri's sentiments, Gavaskar also questioned the team selection, especially the exclusions of chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and Bumrah.

"Kuldeep isn't picked. Bumrah is saved just to play at Lord's. This management's decisions are baffling," said Gavaskar on the official broadcast (Sony Sports Network) after the toss. "I'm a little baffled that Kuldeep wasn't picked, because on a pitch like this, where everybody says there's a little more turn. So, where you needed strengthening was in the wicket-taking department, not so much in the batting."

Kuldeep could have been an attacking bowler, especially in the absence of India's premium fast bowler. He also has an exceptional record against the hosts, having picked up 19 wickets in four Tests at 20.15 in 2024. Additionally, England's unfamiliarity with Kuldeep's style of bowling could have helped India, especially on the fourth and fifth days. Notably, the Chinaman last played an overseas Test in 2019 against Australia in Sydney.

India's performance in recent times hasn't been impressive. They have managed just one win in their last nine red-ball matches, including a whitewash at home against New Zealand, a 3-1 defeat in BGT, and a series opener against England. Adding to their concerns is their dismal record at Edgbaston, seven losses and a draw in eight games.