'Lord's Test More Important Than Series?': Gambhir & Co. Blasted For 'Carrying Baggage' As Bumrah Rested
India have been criticised for not playing Jasprit Bumrah despite a seven-day break between the first and second Tests.
India's call to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the ongoing 2nd Test against England in Birmingham continues to draw criticism. Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara is the latest to join the list wondering whether the decision was taken after discussion with the player and the medics.
India are trailing 0-1 in the five-match series and with Bumrah being their pace spearhead, it would have been logical for the 31-year-old to be part of the 2nd Test as they hope to draw parity. However, the tourists made three changes to the eleven that suffered a five-wicket defeat last month in Leeds as they added more depth to their batting.
Sangakkara felt that with series on the line, Bumrah, if fit, shouldn't have been rested.
'Interesting to understand how the decision is being made and who makes it? Is it after a consultation with the players or the physios? It depends on whether the Lord's Test is more important than the series. The series is on the line. If we see the score, it's an even day, perhaps a little bit more tilted towards England with the five wickets down. So I would have expected the coach to have gone to Bumrah and say 'Yes, we thought you might play the 3rd and the 5th Test, but we're going 1 and 2. Take a look if you can play the third if you can, because then you've got two weeks off before the next one'," Sangakkara said on Sky Sports.
Ever since Gautam Gambhir's appointment as head coach, India have endured torrid time in Test cricket. Of the 11 Tests they have played under his watch, India have lost seven, won three and drawn one. The run includes a historic 0-3 clean sweep at the hands of New Zealand at home.
Sangakkara thinks that the Indian team is carrying the baggage of their previous Tests under Gambhir and therefore desperate to break the trend which led to the changes.
'It's not just a reaction to the last Test. I think there is a bit of chat about the last 9-10. Seven losses, one win, one draw. There is a little bit of baggage as well to turn that pattern around. So there was a lot of pressure and they were looking at this game and thinking 'alright, what can we do?' and they ring in all the changes," Sangakkara said.
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