Former Australian player and coach Tom Moody on Wednesday called India’s team selection for the second Test against England at Edgbaston ‘baffling’. India lined up without their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah and also dropped Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur for Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar.
“India’s selection for this test is baffling. No, Bumrah is one thing, but to only have 5 specialist batsmen is a gamble. The fixation on all-rounders who are there to offer depth with bat and ball has never worked. Specialists are always going to offer more over a test,” Moody posted on X.
The team have already come under flak for resting Bumrah in this Test after going 1-0 down when they lost the 1st Test at Leeds last week. There were also murmurs of dissatisfaction in most corners due to the non-inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav as well.
India’s selection for this test is baffling. No Bumrah is one thing, but to only have 5 specialist batsmen is a gamble.
The fixation on all-rounders who are there to offer depth with bat and ball has never worked. Specialists are always going to offer more over a test. #ENGvIND— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) July 2, 2025
Asked why Bumrah was left out, India skipper Shubman Gill said: “Just to manage his workload, this is an important match but third match being at Lords, there will be a bit in the wicket, and we thought we’ll play him there.”
There was also no Kuldeep Yadav and Gill said they looked to add depth to the batting following the defeat in the series opener.
“We were tempted to play him but we thought of adding a bit of depth in our batting,” said Gill.
Even former head coach Ravi Shastri expressed disbelief at India’s decision to rest a fully fit Bumrah, asserting that the pace spearhead should not have been given the option to sit out of a crucial game.
India, enduring a rough patch in Test cricket since October last year, have managed just one win in their last nine matches, marking their worst run in over a decade. Shubman Gill and his men lost the opening Test against England by five wickets in Leeds.
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“If you look at the run, India has had, this becomes a very, very important test match. You’ve lost three against New Zealand, you’ve lost three against Australia,” Shastri told ‘Sky Sports’.
“You’ve lost the first Test match here and you want to get back to winning ways. You have the best fast bowler in the world, and you make him sit out after seven days of rest, it’s something very hard to believe,” he said.
(With agency inputs)
