Ravi Shastri’s Stern Warning to Gautam Gambhir: ‘Think Twice’ Before Resting Jasprit Bumrah
Welcome to the heart of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, where drama unfolds not just on the pitch but in the strategic minds of India’s coaching and captaincy staff. After a crushing five-wicket defeat to England at Headingley, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has issued a bold warning to current coach Gautam Gambhir and stand-in captain Shubman Gill regarding the management of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s blueprint, as outlined by Gambhir, was to limit Bumrah to just three of the five Tests to manage his workload. However, Shastri, speaking on Sky Sports, urged a rethink after Bumrah’s standout performance at Headingley, where he claimed 5-140 across 43.4 grueling overs, all wickets in the first innings. ‘If he was looking at a rest, you may have to think twice. If you don’t have him and then go 2-0 down, it could be an uphill task,’ Shastri emphasized, highlighting the risk of being without India’s premier fast bowler in crucial matches.
The warning gains weight when you look at the stark contrast in performance among India’s pace battery. While Bumrah shone, the trio of Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna struggled, collectively returning figures of 9-482 in 92 overs. With the second Test looming at Edgbaston on July 2, Shastri’s words could force a strategic pivot. Can India afford to sideline their spearhead when the series hangs in the balance?
Reflecting on the Headingley debacle, Shastri didn’t hold back on the team’s missed opportunities. ‘This will be a tough pill for India to swallow. You don’t get into positions like this very often and blow it from there. They had a chance to take England out of the contest and dictate terms,’ he lamented. He also pointed to the need for greater resilience from the lower order, stating, ‘They need more bottle from the tail, to be stubborn and put a price tag on their wicket.’ Shastri urged the coaching staff to focus on positives while acknowledging Gill’s commendable effort, including a century in his first Test as captain, despite uncontrollable factors like dropped catches and batting collapses.
Adding another layer to the critique, former England captain Nasser Hussain weighed in on Gill’s leadership style. ‘I saw someone finding his way. He didn’t quite have that on-field aura of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. I thought he followed the ball a lot and was reactive rather than proactive,’ Hussain observed. He noted a lack of singular authority, describing it as ‘captaincy by committee.’ However, he echoed Shastri’s sentiment on factors beyond Gill’s control, pinpointing India’s recurring batting collapses—like going 6-31 or 7-41—as a major concern. Hussain suggested India desperately needs a seam-bowling all-rounder who can bat in English conditions, unlike the spin-bowling all-rounders like Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja who thrive at home.
As we wrap up this fiery debate, one thing is clear: the road ahead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is fraught with challenges for India. With Shastri’s warning ringing in their ears, will Gambhir and Gill reconsider their stance on Bumrah’s rest? Can the team address its tail-end woes and find the balance Hussain speaks of? The answers lie in the upcoming Tests, starting with Edgbaston, where India must regroup or risk a swift end to their campaign. Stay tuned as this gripping series unfolds!