Sangakkara questions Gambhir's decision to rest Bumrah for England Test series

The decision to leave Jasprit Bumrah out of India's Playing XI for the second Test against England in Birmingham continues to draw criticism, with head coach Gautam Gambhir facing the brunt of it. Despite being behind 0-1 in the series and a week-long break between the first and second Tests, Bumrah was rested for workload management. This decision puzzled many former cricketers, including Ravi Shastri and Dale Steyn. The pre-determined plan for Bumrah to play three out of five Tests has divided opinions.

Gambhir was vocal about sticking to the team's plan, which has put him in a tough spot. Some believe Bumrah was rested to keep him fresh for the crucial Lord's Test. The pitch at Edgbaston didn't offer much on Day 1, similar to Leeds, where India struggled. Would playing Bumrah at Edgbaston have been a better choice to avoid a 0-2 deficit? Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan captain, insisted that Bumrah was essential for this Test.

Sangakkara questioned the decision-making process and emphasized the importance of the series over individual matches. He suggested that the coach should have consulted Bumrah about playing the second Test to improve India's chances. Sangakkara also mentioned that Gambhir might be under pressure due to India's recent poor Test record, leading to multiple changes in the Playing XI.

No Bumrah wasn't the only surprise in India's Playing XI. The team management made three changes, including Karun Nair batting at No. 3. Sangakkara believes that Gambhir's decisions reflect the pressure to reverse India's Test performance trend.