Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has slammed Jasprit Bumrah for not playing in the second Test against England at Edgbaston.“If you are selected in the Indian team, you cannot pick and choose (which match to play) to manage your workload,” Pathan said on Sony Sports.“There is no other bowler like him, he is world-class. But here, you are not missing the match because of injury but for ‘workload management’.“Now Akash Deep will take his place and be expected to do well as soon as he comes in — and maybe he does — but any bowler needs time to settle in. That continuity is needed.”Pathan also requested the selectors to look past both Bumrah and Shami in the red-ball format.“This is why I have been saying that Indian cricket has to start thinking about playing without Bumrah and (Mohammed) Shami. They have to start planning for playing without them in Test cricket,” said Pathan.
“The main fast bowler of the lineup cannot play all five Tests overseas, so firstly, India don’t have Bumrah’s services throughout the series, and secondly, his replacement, a younger player, is only getting a chance to play when he doesn’t. So he does not have stability,” he said.“This is the only overseas five-match series of the new World Test Championship cycle. This was the series in which Bumrah was needed most. If he had a niggle or an injury, I would understand. But just to manage his workload? Then I don’t think this is coming to India’s advantage,” he said.India captain Shubman Gill provided a detailed insight into the mindset behind India’s approach and the host of changes his side has made for the contest during the toss.“No Bumrah. Just to manage his workload. We did get a good break, and this is an important match for us. But with the third Test being at Lord’s, we think there’ll be more in that pitch, so we’ll use him there. We were tempted to play Kuldeep, but looking at the last match, our lower order didn’t do well, so we decided to add some depth to the batting,” Gill said at the toss.
