India, July 2 -- Amid the barrage of criticism for making as many as three changes in the playing XI for the second Test match against England in Birmingham, which included resting Jasprit Bumrah and ignoring Kuldeep Yadav again, India head coach Gautam Gambhir finally found support from his former teammate Irfan Pathan.

The move to deny Kuldeep a spot in the playing XI and select a second spin-bowling all-rounder, Washington Sundar, to strengthen the lower-order batting, left Sunil Gavaskar baffled. He questioned the logic behind Sundar's inclusion, which was explained as a move to strengthen the lower-order batting, which was majorly at fault during India's five-wicket loss in the series opener in Leeds.

"If your top-order batters are...