The Indian cricket team led by Shubman Gill is currently facing Ben Stokes led English squad in the second test match of the 5-match series at Edgbaston and the Indian team management has come under fire from all the corners for not playing Jasprit Bumrah despite trailing by 0-1.
In a sharp critique directed at the Indian cricket team management, former South African pacer Dale Steyn expressed bewilderment over India’s decision to rest star bowler Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Dale Steyn took to social media on Wednesday night, drawing a sarcastic parallel to highlight the perceived absurdity of the move.
“So Portugal have the best striker in the world in Ronaldo, and they chose not to play him. That’s madness. That’s like India having Bumrah and choosing not to play, umm, him… wait, oh, no, what! shit I’m confused,” he posted on X, clearly questioning the rationale behind sidelining India’s premier fast bowler.
https://x.com/DaleSteyn62/status/1940446033601048938
India have been enduring a prolonged slump in Test cricket since October 2024, managing only one win in their last nine outings, a stretch that marks their poorest run in over ten years. After a five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Leeds, many assumed that Jasprit Bumrah, who played a pivotal role in that match, would be fielded at Edgbaston and perhaps rested for the third game instead.
Jasprit Bumrah had been in lethal form at Leeds, where he registered his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Notably, he also became the first Asian pacer to claim 150 wickets in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries during the match. Therefore, his absence at Edgbaston raised eyebrows, especially considering the eight-day gap between the first and second Tests.
The Indian skipper Shubman Gill explained the decision during the toss, telling the former England captain Michael Atherton that Bumrah was being rested to manage his workload. The team management had already announced ahead of the series that Jasprit Bumrah would only play a maximum of three Tests, in view of his injury history and the need for workload regulation.
Earlier this year, Bumrah was sidelined for three months due to a back spasm he suffered during the Sydney Test against Australia. His return to form had been a significant boost for India, making his absence in a crucial Test even more puzzling to fans and experts alike.
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