‘Captain should be decided, not players …’ Ravi Shastri furious when Jaspreet Bumrah is not playing

New Delhi. Team India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is not part of the second Test match against England. Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed surprise at the absence of Jaspreet Bumrah. Bumrah has not been allowed to play in another Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test. India is 1-0 behind in the five-match series and Bumrah has been rested due to workload management. In his place, Akash Deep has been included in the playing XI.

After the release of the playing XI, Ravi Shastri said, “This is a very important match, he has got a week’s comfort. I am a little surprised that Bumrah is not playing in this match. This decision should not be in the hands of the player. This captain and coaching staff should decide who should play in the playing XI. It is an important game in the context of the series.

Shastri further said, “They should have played in this match. They can play later in Lord’s where you have to answer immediately. India has lost three matches against New Zealand, lost three matches against Australia, then lost the first Test match here and want to come back on the way to win.

Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy have been included in place of B Sai Sudarshan and Shardul Thakur, which has strengthened the Indian batting line-up. However, without Bumrah, India looks quite different in Edgbaston. Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad also expressed surprise at the absence of Bumrah.