Srinagar: Former India Cricketer and Coach Ravi Shastri has slammed Team India management for leaving out pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah out of Playing XI in the second test vs England.
Team India made several changes to Playing-Xi for the second Test vs England and rested pace ace Jasprit Bumrah as well. However, Shastri wasn’t in favour of resting Bumrah for the match, which he feels is important in the context of the series. Speaking to Sky Sports, the former India coach said he finds it hard to believe that the ‘best in the world’ Bumrah has been rested for the game.
“If you look at the run India has had, this becomes a very, very important Test match. You’ve lost 3 against New Zealand, you’ve lost 3 against Australia, you’ve lost the first test match here, and you want to get back to winning ways, and you have the best fast bowler in the side in the world, and you make him sit out after 7 days of rest, you know, it’s something very hard to believe,” said Shastri.
‘The decision should be taken out of player’s hand’
Shastri said that the decision to rest must be taken out of the player’s hand and the captain and coaching staff should make the call. Shastri feels that India need to counter-punch immediately and almost straight away.
“They’ve had a week off. I’m a little surprised that Bumrah is not playing this game. I think it should be taken out of the player’s hand. It should be the captain and the coaching staff that should decide who should be playing, and if this is an important game in the context of the series, he should be playing this game more than anything else. Lords can come later. You know this is the important game where you’ve got to counter punch almost straight away,” said Shastri.
Apart from Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur also made way for Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar. Shastri said that it was a bit harsh on Sudharsan as he missed out on the spot.
“Nitish Reddy, that was expected in these conditions. It’s overcast and again I think it was always going to be between Kuldeep and Washington Sundar. I’m a little surprised Sai Sudarshan was dropped because he really well. It’s harsh. I thought he played really well in that Test match, so you know, he’s got the axe and Kuldeep Yadav, you know, the guy has to wait, poor chap,” said Shastri.
Bumrah has been replaced by Akash Deep in the playing XI.