Published: Jul 02, 2025, 07:21 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 02, 2025, 07:21 PM (IST)
Former Australian player Tom Moody called the Indian team’s selection panel for their decisions for the second Test against England at Edgbaston to be ‘baffling’. The visitors went on without including their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, while also dropping Sai Sudharshan, Shardul Thakur, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar.
“India’s selection for this test is baffling. No, Bumrah is one thing, but to only have 5 specialist batsmen is a gamble. The fixation on all-rounders who are there to offer depth with bat and ball has never worked. Specialists are always going to offer more over a test,” Moody posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
When questioned about why Jasprit Bumrah was not takes, Shubman Gill said, “Just to manage his workload, this is an important match but third match being at Lords, there will be a bit in the wicket, and we thought we’ll play him there.”
India’s selection for this test is baffling. No Bumrah is one thing, but to only have 5 specialist batsmen is a gamble.
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) July 2, 2025
The fixation on all-rounders who are there to offer depth with bat and ball has never worked. Specialists are always going to offer more over a test. #ENGvIND
The Indian team has already lost the first Test of the series, and are trailing the series 1-0. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah not being selected, there is also a lot of murmur about star spinner Kuldeep Yadav not being included.
Indian playing XI for Edgbaston Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
England playing XI for Edgbaston Test:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
