India resting both Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah is a surprise: Sunil Gavaskar

India’s home Test series against the Windies are scheduled to get underway tomorrow with the first encounter to be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Earlier, the team management decided to rest a number of their key players and gave a number of newcomers opportunities to display their prowess in their respective departments at the highest level.

Among the rested cricketers were fast-bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, two of India’s gun bowlers across all the formats. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were drafted in place of the stalwarts. However, Bhuvneshwar and Jasprit’s omission didn’t go down well with former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and he slammed the selectors for their decision.

Their absence gives a chance for Shardul and Siraj

“India resting both Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah is a surprise, for it shows that Test matches don’t seem to matter for the selectors. Were both the bowlers asked if they wanted a break? If a break has to be given do that in the limited overs internationals, but not Test cricket, for if Test cricket is to survive it needs the best players available all the time,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Times of India (TOI).

However, Gavaskar also reckons that Shardul and Siraj have a golden opportunity to perform well and make a case for themselves for the Australia tour later this year. “Their absence gives a chance for Shardul Thakur and Mohammad Siraj to show what they are capable of and try and cement their places for the tour to Australia,” the 69-year-old added.

In the meantime, the Indian team, captained by Virat Kohli, has announced a 12-man squad for the opening Test. Prithvi Shaw, who got his maiden call-up in the England Test series, is most likely to make his debut. Unfortunately, Siraj isn’t a part of the squad while Thakur has been included.

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