India’s team selection for the second Test at Edgbaston has triggered widespread criticism, with fans and cricket greats questioning several bold calls. Among the decisions that stood out, the most notable was the call to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Despite India trailing 0-1 in the five-match series and needing a result to stay alive, Bumrah was rested for workload management. While skipper Shubman Gill explained at the toss that Bumrah was being preserved for the third Test at Lord’s, the decision didn’t sit well with many, including South African pace legend Dale Steyn.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In a sarcastic post on X, Steyn compared Bumrah’s absence to leaving out football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. “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 ����,” Steyn wrote.
Bumrah, currently the No.1 ranked Test bowler, played a key role in India’s earlier wins this year and has consistently been their go-to match-winner in overseas conditions. His absence at Edgbaston, a venue traditionally a venue that offers seam movement has raised eyebrows, especially when India opted for three all-rounders and just five specialist batters.
Adding to the scrutiny was the decision to drop Sai Sudharsan after his debut and to bench Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in top form. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also expressed concerns before the match, hinting that the team’s combinations were moving away from specialist strength.
With England having already seized momentum after their Leeds win, India’s choice with Bumrah may well define the trajectory of this series. And if they backfire, the selection panel will face even more heat.
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