IND vs NZ 2026: 'Did he just come back after playing a lot? what workload?' Former India batter slams Gautam Gambhir for resting Bumrah in 2nd T20I

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif didn't mince his words while lashing out at the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management after Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the second T20I against New Zealand on Friday, January 23, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.

While Harshit Rana came in for Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav replaced Axar Patel. Kaif said that if Axar was injured and India needed backup in the batting department, they could have rested Arshdeep Singh instead of Bumrah and brought

in Rana.

“Rest for what? What workload? Did he just come back after playing a lot? He has already come after taking proper rest. No, no, this thing just doesn’t make sense to me. If you want to give rest, give rest to Arshdeep Singh. If you want to bring in Harshit Rana, if Axar Patel is injured and you need batting at number eight, then rest Arshdeep and bring in Bumrah. I mean, why are we even comparing here? There is no comparison at all," Kaif said in a YouTube video, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Kaif stated that Bumrah cannot be left on the bench because of the team combination. Even if India need more batting depth, the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that the star pacer has to be kept in the playing XI.

“If Bumrah was left out because of a combination, saying that you need batting at number eight, then that is wrong. No power in the world can keep Bumrah out because of team combination. The team will adjust the combination, but Bumrah will play in the XI," the 46-year-old added.

India have already taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after registering comprehensive wins in Nagpur and Raipur. The third T20I is scheduled to be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, January 25. Mitchell Santner and Co. will have to win the match to keep the series alive.