Ravi Shastri Strongly Disagrees with Jasprit Bumrah’s Decision to Skip the 2nd Test to Play at Lord’s

Ravi Shastri suggested that Jasprit Bumrah should have played the second Test against England, in order to 'counter punch' straightaway.

Ravi Shastri Strongly Disagrees with Jasprit Bumrah’s Decision to Skip the 2nd Test to Play at Lord’s

Ravi Shastri slammed Jasprit Bumrah for opting to rest for India's second Test against England, at Edgbaston. (via Eastern Eye)

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Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri slammed Jasprit Bumrah’s decision to opt out of the crucial second Test between India and England, at Edgbaston. Shastri also did not hold back in criticising the captain and the team management for allowing it, terming the move as ‘baffling’. 

Prior to the start of the second Test, India’s team selection for the second Test in Birmingham, sparked considerable debate. The Men in Blue made three changes in the playing XI, with the most significant one being Jasprit Bumrah, who has opted to rest, in order to manage his workload. Bumrah, who was India’s top bowler in their five-wicket loss in the opening Test at Leeds, has been replaced by Akash Deep.

With India trailing 1-0, Bumrah’s absence from the second Test is not sitting well with fans and experts. Among the many dissatisfied with India’s team selection was former Indian all-rounder Ravi Shastri. The 63-year-old, who is a part of Sky Sports’ experts panel alongside Michael Atherton, was left frustrated at the call to leave Bumrah out of the match despite him being fully fit and available for selection.

Ravi Shastri voiced his disapproval of Jasprit Bumrah’s decision, while asserting that the 31-year-old is the world’s best fast bowler and should play every match. He noted that the week-long break should have provided ample time for Bumrah to recuperate.

While terming the decision as ‘strange’ and ‘baffling’, Shastri emphasized upon how crucial the Edgbaston Test is for India, especially after the team has lost seven out of the nine Tests that it has played since October 2024.

This is a very important match, they’ve had a week off. Lord’s can come later. This is an important game in the context of the series; he [Jasprit Bumrah] should be playing this game more than anything else.

The former Indian player minced no words in slamming captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir for allowing Bumrah to opt out, asserting that this decision rests solely with the captain and the coach. He emphasized that there should have been ‘no ifs or buts’ regarding Bumrah’s participation in such an important match, as it is vital for India to avoid giving away a 2-0 lead to the home side.

I’m a little surprised [Jasprit] Bumrah is not playing this game. 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 the 11.

Ravi Shastri also opined that the thought of only playing at Lord’s in the third Test, should have remained out of Bumrah’s head. Nonetheless, despite Shastri’s apprehensions, the 31-year-old was expected to stay out of the second Test, as the team management had previously informed that he would only play three out of the five Tests to remain fit for the season.

Ravi Shastri Questions Sai Sudharsan’s Omission From Edgbaston Test, Calls it ‘Harsh’

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri questioned his successor, Gautam Gambhir’s strategies, scrutinizing several key changes in the playing XI for India’s second Test against England. Shastri pointed to youngster Sai Sudharsan’s omission from the lineup, suggesting that the call was a ‘harsh’ one. 

Ravi Shastri on Sai Sudharsan
Ravi Shastri labeled Sai Sudharsan’s omission from the Indian XI for the second Test against England, as ‘harsh’. (via Hindustan Times)

Shastri was left irked at Gambhir dropping Sai Sudharsan from the lineup for the second Test, at Edgbaston. Speaking on Sky Sports, the 63-year-old, shared his belief the 23-year-old batter, who only made his Test debut in the opening match at Leeds, should have been given an opportunity after he showed flashes of his talent in the second innings of the Leeds Test, scoring 30 runs off 48 balls.

Sai Sudharsan has been replaced by Washington Sundar, while Karun Nair has been promoted to the number 3 spot. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri did however, agree with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s inclusion in the playing XI in Edgbaston, given the overcast batting-friendly conditions. He did speak about Sundar being picked over Kuldeep Yadav, suggesting that the latter would have to wait for his opportunity.