After losing the Leeds Test, the Indian team had 7 days off. Indian team captain pacer Jasprit Bumrah also received ample time to rest. But Team India, which is down 0-1 in the Test series, has stunned many experts by not playing him in the Birmingham Test. Team India has come into the Birmingham Test with the aim to win in order to draw level in the series, but they appear to have a defensive approach. As per the assistant coach of the team, Ryan ten Doeschate, Bumrah was available and prepared for the game. But he was not allotted a position in the playing XI. Coach Gautam Gambhir has been repeating that Team India will play aggressively and will always play the match to win.

“You lost the first Test match here and you want to get back on the winning track. You have the best fast bowler in the world and you make him sit out after a seven-day break, it is very difficult to believe. This is a very important match, he got a week’s break. I am a little surprised that Bumrah is not playing in this match.” Former Indian captain and commentator Ravi Shastri told ‘Sky Sports

“It should be taken out of the hands of the player. The captain and the head coach should decide who should play in the playing eleven. This is an important match in terms of the series. He should have played in this match. Lord’s can come later. This is an important match where you have to counterattack immediately.” He added.

But in Birmingham, the plan of the team appears to be defensive rather than attacking. Particularly because India has been defeated in all 8 Tests played at Birmingham so far. On the Leeds Test, Bumrah’s wife and host Sanjana Ganesan had also urged him to play in all five Tests on behalf of Sunil Gavaskar and Cheteshwar Pujara in an interview with him. But what did not happen, did not happen.