Pietersen rubbishes Bumrah’s captaincy on Day 4

Bumrah captained India for the first time due to Rohit Sharma’s absence owing to a Covid-19 infection.

However, the going has not been easy for India’s pace spearhead.

Despite posting a mammoth victory target of 378, India were not able to put England under pressure.

As a result, England scored at 4.54 runs an over in their second innings and are less than 120 runs away from victory.

This invited strong criticism from England great, Kevin Pietersen.

Chasing a record 378 for a series-saving victory, England raced to 259 for 3 at stumps on Monday thanks to three fluent half-centuries by Alex Lees, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.

What Pietersen said

“I don’t think Bumrah got his tactics right today at all, and I say that with the greatest deal of respect.”

“There is no way with a reverse swinging ball that he should make it that easy for the batter, because the batter is trying so hard to decipher which way that ball is swinging.”

“When it’s reverse swinging at 90mph, the nicest place to bat is at the non-strikers end, and the ability to get to the non-strikers end as easily as they did this afternoon, it’s too easy,” he added.

Pietersen also pointed out problems with India’s field placements in the last session when the ball was reversing.

India bowled with an in and out field with protection in the deep for the most part of England’s second innings.

“They had long off and long on, and that was pure madness.”

India had England on the mat with three quick wickets after a century opening stand but Bairstow (72*) and Root (76*) put on an outstanding partnership to put England in a commanding position.

The unbeaten counter-attacking partnership for the fourth wicket is already worth 151.

The punters have odds of 80 to 20 on an English victory.

If this happens, it will be a learning experience and tough initiation for Bumrah on his captaincy debut.