Former cricketer Manvinder Bisla has fiercely defended Gautam Gambhir’s team selections for the Edgbaston Test after India’s commanding victory over England, highlighting how quickly public opinion can shift.
The Controversial Selections
Before the second Test at Edgbaston, India’s playing XI raised several eyebrows among cricket analysts. A major point of contention was the decision to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, especially after India’s loss in the previous match in Leeds.
Further changes included bringing in Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, replacing Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur. Many experts questioned the balance of the side, particularly the focus on all-rounders over specialist batsmen and bowlers.
Bisla Slams the Critics
Following India’s emphatic 336-run win, Manvinder Bisla, a former teammate of Gautam Gambhir at Kolkata Knight Riders, took to social media to shut down the critics.
Bisla’s post on X (formerly Twitter) succinctly captured the essence of the situation: “Before the Test: @GautamGambhir messed up the XI. After the win: @ShubmanGill era begins. Narratives change faster than the scorecard.” He also added a note of credit, acknowledging both Gambhir and Shubman Gill as leaders, and emphasizing that the win belonged to the entire team.
Bisla himself is known for his match-winning knock of 89 runs off just 48 balls in the 2012 IPL final, which helped KKR secure their first title against Chennai Super Kings.
Pundits’ Initial Doubts
Several prominent voices in cricket had expressed strong reservations about India’s squad choices before the match:
Tom Moody’s Concerns
Cricket commentator Tom Moody called India’s selection “baffling.” He pointed out that resting Bumrah was one thing, but having only five specialist batsmen was a huge gamble. Moody also criticized the “fixation on all-rounders” as a strategy that “has never worked,” advocating for specialists in Test cricket.
Ravi Shastri’s Take
Former India coach Ravi Shastri highlighted the importance of the match, especially given India’s recent Test losses against New Zealand and Australia. He found it “very hard to believe” that India would bench “the best fast bowler in the world” after only seven days of rest, stressing the need to get back to winning ways.
Michael Atherton’s View
England great Michael Atherton echoed similar sentiments. He stated that if he were in India’s shoes, he would have played Bumrah, considering it a crucial game. Atherton also suggested picking Mohammed Siraj and left-armer Arshdeep Singh for swing, believing Arshdeep could create footmarks for spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Victory Silences the Doubters
Despite the initial wave of criticism, India’s dominant performance at Edgbaston, culminating in a massive victory, effectively silenced the doubters. The chosen XI proved to be more than capable, turning the pre-match narratives on their head.
This episode serves as a powerful reminder in sports: results often speak louder than pre-game predictions, and the true test of a selection lies in the team’s performance on the field.
