Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has questioned Jasprit Bumrah's absence from the Edgbaston Test, calling the decision to rest him "very hard to believe".
India made three changes to their playing XI: Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep came in. Sai Sudharsan was dropped after a solitary outing, while Shardul Thakur made way too.
Jasprit Bumrah, who is set to play just three out of five Tests to balance his workload, missed out as well.
Shastri, under whom Bumrah made his Test debut in 2018, wasn't impressed with the decision to sit him out.
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Shastri: Bumrah sitting out 'very hard to believe'
"You have lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia and the first Test here. You want to get back to winning ways," Shastri told Sky Cricket after the toss.
"No ifs and buts, he should have been playing. You have the best fast bowler in the side in the world, and you make him sit out after seven days of rest. It's something very hard to believe."
He continued to speak about India's selection calls in the commentary box, ahead of the first session.
"I think I am a little surprised," Shastri said. "This is an important match, they've had a week off. I am a little surprised Bumrah is not playing this game. I think it should be taken out of the player's hand: it should be the captain and coaching staff that should decide who should be in the playing XI.
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Shastri: Sudharsan getting dropped is harsh
"If this an important game in the context of the series, he should be playing this game. More than anything else. Lord's can come later. This is the important game where you got to counterpunch almost straightaway. Nitish Reddy [playing] was expected in these conditions, it's overcast. And again, it was always going to be between with Kuldeep and Washi [Sundar].
India dropped 23-year-old Sudharsan after giving him the Test cap in at Headingley. Shastri called the decision "harsh".
"I am little surprised Sai Sudharsan is dropped – it's harsh – I thought, he played really well in that Test. And Kuldeep Yadav, he has to wait... poor chap".
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