Chennai: Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar slammed the Indian team management’s decision for resting Jasprit Bumrah for the ongoing second Test of the four-match series against England in Chennai.
Bumrah has been an integral part of the side ever since making his debut. The fast bowler has gained through ranks magnificently and has been among the best pacers in world cricket. He has the most wickets by an Indian fast bowler ever since making his Test debut. Bumrah was among the pick of the bowlers for India in the first Test, picking four wickets. It was also his first Test match at home.
Opining on the exclusion of Bumrah, Gavaskar slammed the team management saying that one doesn’t rest their no.1 bowler in the name of workload management. He said, he doesn’t understand the philosophy of giving rest to ‘supremely fit’ players.
“I don’t quite understand the decision to rest Bumrah, especially considering there’s a 7-day break between the second Test and the third. These are not the cricketers of the past but belong to a generation of players that is supremely fit,” Gavaskar told.
“You don’t rest your number one bowler in the name of workload management. Jasprit Bumrah is India’s number one bowler with the new ball, while Ravichandran Ashwin is the number one spinner. When you have lost the opening game of such a crucial series, you can’t rest your number one pacer. I am baffled by Bumrah’s snub, as there is a seven-day recovery time after the second Test match,” Gavaskar added.
