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'Bowling 23 Overs In Entire Game' - Gavaskar Criticises India For Resting Bumrah

Bumrah has been in spectacular form and could've been lethal on the Ranchi pitch [X.com]Bumrah has been in spectacular form and could've been lethal on the Ranchi pitch [X.com]

Sunil Gavaskar wore a critical outlook on Indian team management's decision to rest ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah for the fourth Test of the five-match series against England despite insignificant workload. 

The batting legend questioned how could Bumrah be tired if he bowled just 15 overs in the first-innings and only 8 in the second-innings of the previous Test held in Rajkot, which was played following a nine-day break from the second Test in Visakhapatnam. 

India's spearhead would've been lethal on a pitch that had cracks with his tall release and bag of tricks for all conditions but he was released from the squad in a premeditated move that benefitted Bengal's backup pacer Akash Deep as he got the chance to make his debut. 


Gavaskar Questions Decision To Rest Bumrah 

Ultimately, India won the Test match and sealed the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead. However, Gavaskar underlined the risk the team management, including coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma, had taken in resting their premium fast bowler for the penultimate Test. 

"Despite bowling just 15 overs in the first innings and then eight overs in the second innings of the third Test at Rajkot, Bumrah was rested for Ranchi presumably on the trainer’s recommendation," Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-Day.  


"Don’t forget there was a nine-day break between the second Test and third Test match and then bowling 23 overs in the entire game is not tiring at all, so why was Bumrah rested? After the fourth Test there was going to be another eight-days break before the final Test match; enough time for supremely fit athletes to recover and be ready to play for the country."

Bumrah's absence was certainly felt with the old ball after India allowed England to recover from 112/5 at lunch on Day 1 to post a gigantic 353 and it required a superlative performance from the attack in the second half for the hosts to bounce back and clinch victory. 

The 30-year-old returns to play the fifth and final Test in Dharamshala, starting Thursday (March 7).