India opted to bench Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston. The decision - revealed officially at the toss - immediately drew reactions with none more pointed than from former South Africa pace legend Dale Steyn.
India are going through a tough stretch in the Test format. They were already under pressure after losing the opening match in Leeds. And the team went into the second Test without him.
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Steyn slams Bumrah omission in Edgbaston Test with Cristiano Ronaldo comparison
Steyn expressed disbelief on social media. Comparing the situation to Portugal not playing Ronaldo at his peak, Steyn suggested India were making a similar blunder.
"So Portugal have the best striker in the world in Ronaldo, and they chose not to play him. That's madness. That's like India having Bumrah and choosing not to play, umm, him… wait, oh, no, what! shit I’m confused," Steyn tweeted on Wednesday night.
Bumrah had taken 5/59 in the first innings at Headingley. He is considered among the best fast bowlers in the world. The timing of Bumrah’s omission was even more surprising, given India had an eight-day break between Tests.
At the toss, India captain Shubman Gill clarified that Bumrah was rested as part of workload management. He said the team expects more assistance for pace at Lord's and that is when Bumrah is likely to return.
The Indian management had reportedly decided before the series began that Bumrah would play only three of the five Tests. The 31-year-old had also recently returned from a back spasm that kept him out for three months earlier this year.
Still, resting your best bowler in a crucial match has not gone down well with legends like Steyn.