Gambhir Urges India to Bench Bumrah and Gill for First Test Against England

In a bold take ahead of the India-England Test series, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has suggested India should consider leaving out star pacer Jasprit Bumrah and in-form batter Shubman Gill from the playing XI for the opening Test.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Gambhir argued that Bumrah’s effectiveness may be limited in English conditions due to the Dukes ball and swinging pitches. He instead recommended fielding seamers better suited to exploiting lateral movement.

On Gill, Gambhir expressed concern over the young batter’s inconsistency in red-ball cricket overseas and hinted that form and technique should dictate selections—not reputation.

While the comments have sparked debate, they underscore the tough decisions awaiting the Indian team management as they aim to counter England’s high-octane Bazball strategy in what promises to be a fiercely contested five-match series.
*This news has been published on NDTV Sports on 16th June 2025