‘Is Lord’s test more important than the series?’- Kumar Sangakkara questions India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah at Edgbaston

Jasprit Bumrah was rested for second test despite getting eight days of rest after the first test.

Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara was baffled to see the Indian Cricket Team management resting Jasprit Bumrah, their premier pacer, for the ongoing second test against the England Cricket Team, which is being played at the Edgbaston ground from July 2.

Bumrah, who is pre-planned to play only three tests in the ongoing five-test series, already played in the first test in Leeds. He picked up five wickets, and despite eight days of rest before the second test, Shubman Gill and the Indian team management rested Bumrah for the second test, citing workload management.

This was probably done to give Bumrah more time to recuperate ahead of the third test that will be played at the Lord’s Cricket Ground from July 10.

The series is on the line – Kumar Sangakkara baffled at Jasprit Bumrah being rested by India   

Given the significance of the game and India’s recent test record, the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah has drawn special criticism. Since September of last year, the squad has only managed one victory and one tie in the last nine test matches, losing seven of them.

Kumar Sangakkara, a former captain of Sri Lanka, questioned the reasoning behind Jasprit Bumrah’s exclusion, arguing that the circumstances called for a different strategy.

“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.

Additionally, Sangakkara noted that the numerous lineup changes could be an indication of the strain that the team’s management is under as a result of recent performance.

“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 added.

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