The decision by the Indian team management, which included captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, not to select Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test match against England on Wednesday in Birmingham, infuriated former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

As the debate over Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the second Test intensified, Kuldeep Yadav was unanimously supported by experts who reminded India of their pressing need for a wicket-taking bowler following a disappointing performance by the other fast bowlers in Leeds.

But India disregarded the appeal for the second Test, as Kuldeep was once more overlooked, which left Gavaskar "baffled."

The great Indian batsman told Sony Sports Network, "I'm a little baffled that Kuldeep wasn't chosen, because on a pitch like this, where everybody says there's a little more turn."

India did include a second spinner to the starting XI, with Washington Sundar taking the place of Shardul Thakur, but as captain Gill explained at the toss, the choice was made with the lower-order batting in mind, which had failed in the series opener against England in Leeds, resulting in a five-wicket defeat.

To make up for Bumrah's rest in Birmingham, India selected an extra fast-bowling option in all-rounder Nitish Reddy, and Sai Sudharsan paid the price for it. Sai Sudharsan also paid the price for it in order to give more depth to both batting and bowling.

In a stinging critique of both actions, Gavaskar pointed out that India never had a problem with batting after scoring over 800 runs in Leeds over the two innings, and that they instead needed bowlers who could take wickets.

"Washington at seven or Nitish Reddy at eight won't always solve the problem if your top-order hitters aren't producing the runs you anticipate since those weren't the hitters who let you down in the first Test." You had 830 runs. It wasn't 380 points in two innings; it was more than 830. He stated, "That's a lot of runs.

Gavaskar came to the conclusion that "The areas where you needed improvement were in the wicket-taking department, not so much in the batting."

At Edgbaston, England, who lead the series 1-0, won the toss and decided to bowl.

Read Also: The Reason Behind India and England Cricketers Donning Black Armbands in the Birmingham Test

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