'Lord’s Test more important than series?': Sangakkara highlights Gambhir's 'baggage' as criticism piles over Bumrah rest

Gautam Gambhir and Kumar Sangakkara shake hands (IPL/File Photo)

No one has been more criticized than head coach Gautam Gambhir for the decision to exclude Jasprit Bumrah from the second Test match against England in Birmingham. Many former cricketers, including Ravi Shastri and Dale Steyn, were perplexed by Bumrah being rested despite India's 0-1 series deficit and the week-long interval between the first and second Tests. What separates opinions, though, is the fact that it was pre-determined that Bumrah would play three of the five Tests, keeping his workload in mind.

Gambhir was quite outspoken about it. He insisted on sticking to the team's plan. And it appears that his tenacity is what has gotten him into trouble. According to one school of thought, Bumrah was given a break in order to prepare him for the crucial Lord's Test. On Day 1, the surface at Edgbaston did not do much. However, the Leeds pitch didn't either and India lost the Test by 5 wickets.

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Wouldn't playing Bumrah at Edgbaston have made more sense in this situation to offer India the best opportunity of avoiding a 0–2 deficit? Although the answer is unknown, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara believes Bumrah was essential for this Test.

“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,” he said on Sky Sports.

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There were other surprises in India's playing eleven besides Bumrah. Three changes were made by the team management. Akash Deep took Bumrah's place, Nitish Reddy took Shardul Thakur's, and Washington Sundar was brought in place of Sai Sudharsan.

In addition, there were questions over why Karun Nair was suddenly moved from No. 6 at Headingley to bat at 3 at Edgbaston. According to Sangakkara, there is more to it than just panic in a camp being reflected in excessive chopping and changing. He is convinced that Gambhir is bringing with him the weight of India's dismal Test record, which has seen them lose seven Tests since September of last year.

“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," added Sangakkara.