Why according to Jasprit Bumrah Ravi Shastri, India vs England will not play 2 Tests

Team India is in a dilemma. They played Jasprit Bumrah against England at Headingley, therefore using him in one of the three Test matches he would play in the 5-match series. Yet, they lost. This means not only are they 0-1 down but will have to play two of the remaining four games without Bumrah.

Bumrah should skip the Edgbaston Test, says Shastri

India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir will now have to make the tough choice of deciding which Test matches Bumrah will play and which ones he will miss. On this issue, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has given his two bits.

“Bumrah said he’ll play three Test matches. Now, which of the three he’ll play, that’s, you know, another question to be asked. I think if he takes a break, it’ll be the next one, because he’ll definitely want to play at Lord’s, right?” Shastri said speaking on Sky Sports.

Lord’s the perfect place for the pacer

Shastri reasons that by allowing Bumrah to skip the Edgbaston Test, you will give the pacer ample time to recover and be at his absolute best. Another theory is that the slope at Lord’s, the venue for the third Test, will aid Bumrah. If the fast bowler plays in Edgbaston, he can’t play in Lord’s because the turnout between the two games is just four days.

But the decision has issues of its own. Shastri points out that if Team India doesn’t play Bumrah, they could reach Lord’s 0-2 down. In the former coach’s mind, this is how they have to manage Bumrah’s workload. Of course, then the pacer will play in Old Trafford or Oval.

And there’s a break, and then you go into Lord’s, then there’s a break, and then there’s a choice between Manchester and the same. It could be 2-0 down. So that is the problem. I think he has got to play,” Shastri added.